Asian Decorative Art Vases
Asian decorative art vases bring centuries of refined craftsmanship into a room, offering striking focal points for any interior scheme.
Asian Decorative Art Vases
The selection on this page relies heavily on pairs and collections of vases, baskets, and vessel types produced across the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. These objects reflect a period of intense artistic output, utilising traditional techniques handed down through generations of skilled makers.
Most examples lean towards familiar nineteenth-century and early twentieth-century forms, including Satsuma earthenware, Imari porcelains, and cloisonné enamel works. Collectors will find that these items range from large display pieces intended for prominent placement to intricately shaped vessels designed for floral arrangements or ornamental display.
Materials and methods
Makers utilised a diverse palette of materials, combining porcelain, earthenware, and metals such as bronze, brass, and copper to form the body of each vessel. Earthenware surfaces often received dense applications of enamel and gold leaf, while bronze and copper pieces relied on casting and patination for their primary visual impact.
Surface decoration frequently involved intricate cloisonné wirework, cinnabar lacquer carving, or hand-painted enamel scenes depicting traditional motifs. Artisans applied gold leaf and coloured pigments with meticulous precision, ensuring that the decorative layers adhered securely to ceramic or metallic substrates.
Asian Decorative Art Vases Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for asian decorative art vases among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Some baskets were woven from metal to trick the eye into seeing bamboo.
Assessing quality
Quality rests upon the precision of the execution, whether in the tightness of cloisonné wire cells, the crispness of carved cinnabar lacquer, or the finesse of hand-painted Satsuma and Imari details. Superior examples display balanced composition and steady brushwork without hesitation or crowding.
The integrity of the underlying material and the preservation of original surface finishes dictate the standing of a piece within its category. Skilled potting, substantial metal casting, and intact enamel or lacquer layers separate standard commercial output from the work of accomplished artists and established workshops.
Manpei, Kobe
The Asian Decorative Art Vases Glossary
- Satsuma
- A type of Japanese earthenware featuring an ivory-coloured, crackle-glazed surface decorated with enamel and gold leaf. It gained immense popularity during the Meiji period for export markets.
- Cloisonné
- A metalwork technique where flat metal wires are soldered to a base to form compartments, which are then filled with enamel paste and fired. This method creates intricate patterned designs across vases and vessels.
- Imari
- A style of Japanese porcelain decorated in underglaze blue, iron red, gold, and supplementary colours. These wares were traditionally produced in Arita and shipped from the port of Imari.
- Cinnabar lacquer
- A decorative technique involving multiple layers of red lacquer applied to a core material, typically wood or metal, before being intricately carved with figurative or botanical scenes.
- Ikebana
- The traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement, which influenced the creation of specialised low-bowled or basket-formed vessels designed to hold specific botanical stems.
Asian Decorative Art Vases: Frequently Asked Questions
What periods do these vases come from?
The pieces span the late nineteenth century through to the early decades of the twentieth century, taking in the Meiji and Showa periods alongside the Qing dynasty.
This timeframe captures a period of intense artistic exchange and traditional craftsmanship across China and Japan.
How were cloisonne vases made?
Artisans soldered thin metal wires onto a bronze, copper, or brass base to create compartments known as cloisons. These sections were then filled with coloured enamel paste and fired repeatedly until the surface could be polished smooth.
The resulting vessels display complex geometric or botanical patterns defined by fine metallic lines.
What is Satsuma ware?
Satsuma ware is a distinct style of Japanese earthenware characterised by a distinctive warm, ivory-coloured glaze covered in a fine network of cracks. Artists then painted detailed figural and floral scenes over this base, often incorporating generous amounts of gold leaf.
These pieces were largely produced for international exhibition and export during the Meiji era.
How do I care for antique lacquer vases?
Cinnabar lacquer and related pieces require stable environmental conditions away from direct sunlight and extreme humidity fluctuations. Dusting should be performed gently with a soft, dry cloth without the use of chemical polishes or modern cleaning agents.
Preserving the original surface requires protecting the lacquer layer from physical knocks and abrasion.