Blue Red Porcelain Vase
When you search for a blue red porcelain vase, you encounter pieces that combine rich cobalt pigments with contrasting red enamel decoration.
Blue Red Porcelain Vase
When you examine a blue red porcelain vase, you encounter vessels that merge underglaze blue pigment with iron red or copper red tones. These pieces span centuries of production, originating from Japanese kilns in the Edo and Meiji periods as well as Chinese dynasties, alongside later European interpretations.
The version you are most likely to meet on this page is the Japanese Imari vase from the nineteenth century, often decorated with shaped panels and floral motifs. Alongside these stand lidded jars, ginger jars, and floor standing pieces that utilise the traditional blue, red, and gilt palette.
Collectors also encounter garnitures, double gourd shapes, and table lamps converted from earlier ceramic bodies. The selection ranges from small cabinet pieces to large floor vases produced across the Victorian and Edwardian eras.
How they were made
Potters built these vessels using white porcelain clay, shaping them on the wheel or in moulds to create baluster, fluted, and garlic mouth forms. The bodies received an initial underglaze cobalt blue painting before the first firing.
After the glaze was applied and fired, artisans added iron red or copper red enamels, frequently complemented by gold leaf or gilding. This involved a subsequent low temperature firing to fix the overglaze colours.
Blue Red Porcelain Vase Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for blue red porcelain vase 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.
Listings span the eighteenth, nineteenth, and early twentieth centuries, featuring porcelain, enamel, and gold leaf.
What varies in quality
The distinction between ordinary and superior examples lies in the crispness of the underglaze blue and the precision of the red enamel and gilding. Master painters achieved fine linework and balanced compositions that remained harmonious across complex surfaces.
Porcelain bodies that exhibit smooth glazes without firing distortions command greater regard. Furthermore, the thickness of the application and the preservation of the gold leaf across centuries separate everyday items from exceptional works.
Stevenson and Hancock·Masons Ironstone·Samson
The Blue Red Porcelain Vase Glossary
- Imari
- A style of Japanese porcelain originating from Arita, characterised by a palette of underglaze blue, iron red, and gilt. Pieces often feature dense floral and brocade patterns arranged in panels.
- Underglaze blue
- A decorative technique where cobalt oxide is painted directly onto the unglazed porcelain body. It is then covered with a transparent glaze and fired at high temperatures.
- Enamel
- A low-firing glass-based colour applied over the fired glaze to provide supplementary hues such as iron red. This allows for vibrant details that sit slightly raised on the surface.
- Garniture
- A set of three or more matching vases or jars designed to be displayed together on a mantelpiece or cabinet. These matching groups typically include a central vase flanked by covered jars.
- Ginger jar
- A broad-shouldered storage vessel with a domed cover, originally used for spices or preserved ginger. In decorative contexts, they form matching pairs or parts of larger sets.
Blue Red Porcelain Vase: Frequently Asked Questions
How are Japanese Imari vases dated?
Dating relies on stylistic shifts, potting techniques, and the characteristics of the glaze and iron red pigments. Nineteenth-century examples often display denser decoration and heavier porcelain bodies compared to earlier periods.
Makers' marks or regional origins such as Arita provide additional clues, though many decorative pieces remain unmarked and require visual comparison with documented specimens.
What is the difference between Imari and other porcelain?
Imari porcelain is defined by its specific colour palette, primarily combining cobalt blue and iron red with generous applications of gold leaf. This distinct combination creates a rich, patterned surface that differs from monochrome or blue and white wares.
While Chinese and Japanese kilns both produced wares in this manner, European factories subsequently imitated the style during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
How do I display these vases at home?
These ceramic vessels suit placement on sturdy side tables, mantelpieces, or as floor-standing statements depending on their scale. Garnitures look particularly effective arranged together on a long surface where their matching designs can be appreciated.
Avoid placing them in areas of direct, harsh sunlight or heavy foot traffic where they might be accidentally knocked, ensuring their glazes remain protected.
Were lidded jars used for storage?
Covered jars and ginger jars served practical storage purposes in their original contexts, holding commodities like spices, tea, or herbs. Over time, their decorative qualities led to their primary use as ornamental display pieces in European and Asian interiors.
The presence of the original matching cover significantly enhances the completeness and historical interest of the vessel today.