We have a LOT of lovely artworks, chinaware's and other creative works because we love hand-crafted art!
So, the attraction to this vase (for us) was the visual appeal, not whether it MAY be Nippon porcelain ... it just depends why someone collects these things, the art or the value or both perhaps.
Over many many years we seem to have far too much of these beautiful items, so (sadly) some have to find new homes and this is one that we are prepared to part with.
This medium size vase has many features of genuine Nippon product but ....
Nippon porcelain (genuine) is very desirable to collectors. It was produced until the 1920's and became extremely popular and valuable, so out came the reproductions and this vase is PROBABLY a reproduction but then it has features that point towards it being an original too. We picked this vase up from a deceased estate house auction (do they still have such things?) many many years ago, around the 1970's. Actually we bought home two vases, HERE is the other one.
DESCRIPTION:
"Nippon" vase with open side handles
Bright white porcelain base material
Looking at the base, the white porcelain takes on a very very light blue tinge.
Translucent - hold it up to the light and you can see the shadow of your hand through the porcelain
Another peculiar thing with this vase ... we had this in the lounge and when music was playing a bit loud the vase would "sing"! A bit like the sound of crystal glass when you "ping" it - most strange.
Glazed both outside and inside the vase
Flowers with extensive gold gilding outlines and scroll patterns
Not sure about what type of flowers these are, certainly not English roses! We considered them something like a Japanese Sakura flower (pale pink with a double bud)
The artwork details:
The colours are truly beautiful and delicate pastels and do follow the guidelines regarding colouring used in the original Nippon products (leaves with complimentary variations in green, flowers with two colours) and the application of gold gilding has been extensively applied.
Our big concern is that the artwork is not very precisely applied, in places we can see where the paint work and gold application don't quite meet up properly. It could be that the Japanese worker was having a 'bad day', but if it was Nippon we think it unlikely the vase would 'get out the door' if that was the case!
Genuine Nippon was made by fine craftsman (actually probably a woman), known for their exquisite decorating skills. This porcelain vase is attractive but look at it very closely and you can easily see imperfections in the artwork, we wouldn't expect this from a genuine Nippon vase.
NO makers mark or backstamp. We looked into this aspect a long time ago and it seems that many Nippon porcelain items had no backstamp so this doesn't really help to establish if the vase is Nippon product or not.
As is always the case with items of appreciating value, reproductions were produced trying to pass themselves off as genuine Nippon porcelain. We have a suspicion this is one of those reproductions.
NO cracks
NO chips
The vase stands 30cm or around 1 foot high
Diameter of the vase at the widest point is approximately 190mm or 7.5 inches in the "old speak"
Weighs 1360g
In summary, it is a lovely porcelain vase and looks very nice with a few colourful dried flowers in it but is it Nippon? We think not ... if it was, this would be a bargain!
