Each of elegant ovoid form, with gently rounded shoulders rising to a short waisted neck and slightly everted rim, finely worked in gilt wire against an unusual soft rose-pink enamel ground with a continuous naturalistic composition of trailing grapevine, the twisting stems and tendrils extending asymmetrically around the body beneath broad leaves rendered in subtly shaded white and smoky-grey enamels with darker charcoal accents, the clusters of grapes delicately shaded from pale lavender to smoky purple-grey.
Birds are depicted among and beneath the vines in varied naturalistic poses, their plumage delicately rendered in white, cream, buff and soft brown enamels and finely articulated in gilt wire.
The open, asymmetrical composition, generous use of negative space and painterly treatment of the birds and foliage closely recall the distinctive pictorial style of Namikawa Sōsuke, particularly his naturalistic bird-and-flower subjects.
The necks are encircled by a formal band of stylised floral and scrolling ornament, while the lower bodies are finished with a muted pale-blue enamel border of stylised foliate and lappet motifs. The mouths and footrings are mounted in gilt metal, the bases counter-enamelled in vivid turquoise blue.
Height: 18.5 cm each Width at widest point: approximately 13 cm
Condition: In very good condition commensurate with age. One vase with a very slight irregularity to the gilt metal rim, only noticeable on close inspection and from certain angles.
