A Magnificent Palace Sized Japanese Cloisonne Vase

Meiji period (1868-1912), late 19th century, an impressive vase with wide flaring mouth finely rendered in gold, silver, and copper wire of varying gauges and some areas with musen wireless technique, the main body features a pair of pheasants perched on branches of a cherry blossom tree they are surrounded by a lush garden with a myriad of blooming flora that includes wisteria, peony, chrysanthemum, hydrangea, iris and many more all against a light blue ground, the scene is continued around the entire vase, the elegant tapered neck is decorated with chrysanthemum and paulownia motifs in serene colors against a speckled amber nashiji ground, there is a thick pattern band around the mouth rim repeated below above the foot rim, underside and interior of mouth have light blue enamel, presented raised on a carved wood stand.

Vase 55 in., Stand 18 1/2 in., HOA 73 1/2 in.

Private Collection, Blowing Rock, North Carolina

A very similar pair of vases purchased in 1906 in Chicago by James J. Hill now resides in the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art (2019.142.2) The vase on offer here was acquired by the owner of an antiques auction house in North Carolina in the 1960s and has remained in the family since. It is likely that it was also created for a World's Fair or Exposition, perhaps the World's Columbian Fair in Chicago in 1893.

Overall very good condition; two craze marks; one very small pit mark; and a spot of white substance on one bird; wooden stand with some rubbing, wear, and losses to finish.