By Kinkozan, Kyoto, Japan, Late Meiji to Taisho period (c.1900–1920)
A finely potted Satsuma vase of elegant ovoid form, the surface dramatically decorated with a three-clawed dragon in flight, rendered in raised gilt with exceptional detail and energy. The creature grasps a flaming pearl, its face picked out in silver — a rare and striking contrast. The dragon coils across a richly mottled faux-tortoiseshell ground, reminiscent of the Jizhou glaze tradition of Song dynasty China, here adapted with distinctive Japanese refinement.
Provenance: From the collection of Dr. Hugh McCormick Smith (1865–1941), noted American ichthyologist and diplomat, by descent.
Comparable: See Bonhams, New York, Lot 3298, 12 September 2012, for a related example.
Dimensions:
Height: 14.6 cm (5.75 in)
Diameter: 8.3 cm (3.25 in)
Base diameter: 4.1 cm (1 5/8 in)
Condition: Very good overall with minimal wear. No chips, cracks, or restoration observed.
