Preliminary identification
Photo reference
5 uploaded photos
Overview
An exceptional six-sided porcelain vase decorated in the classic Kutani palette, featuring alternating panels of legendary figures, birds, and lush botanicals. The neck is adorned with intricate brocade patterns, iron-red grounds, and gilt highlights, culminating in a delicate lobed rim.
Story
During the Meiji era, Japanese master potters captivated the Western world with their dramatic, highly detailed porcelain. This vase features a legendary Daoist immortal taming a tiger, a classic symbol of spiritual power over nature.
Maker / Origin
While unsigned, this piece was crafted in the Ishikawa prefecture, the historic heart of Kutani ware. Kutani workshops of the late 19th and early 20th centuries were famous for their division of labor, where highly specialized painters spent days executing microscopic details on a single vessel.
Condition & Value
The vase appears to be in very good antique condition. There is minor wear to the gilt on the lobed rim and some light firing dust/specks in the glaze on the underside of the foot rim, which is typical for porcelain of this era. No visible cracks or major chips are apparent in the photos.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.