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Carved black lacquer overlay on red, brass top and bottom rims, blue enamel interior and base, 38 cm tall.

You can see layers of lacquer in good detail.

While I can find comparables of black overlay carved lacquer vases I can not find comparables of this size, shape, and detail. Notice there are no large flat expanses in spite of it's size.

What decade of 20th century do you believe this is from?

Do you know if there is a specific name for the black over red style?

Is there a name for the shape of the vase with applied ears at the neck?

Thank you,

Michael

Hi Michael.

Our guess - mid 1950's. Blue enamel on a metal body was found from mid Republic era (1928) onward, but prior to 1950's they often had a name plate saying "Peiping / Peking Lacquer Cooperative".

We've seen both red over black and black over red styles. (Also some with browns, greens, and yellows). Nice detail carving. Keep it out of strong light.

Cheers

Thank you for your helpful reply Doug & Moyra.

Yes, blue enamel interior but not over a metal body; I should have been more specific.

There are small gaps between the brass rims and blue enamel when viewed with a loupe the body appears to be made of a brown fiberous material like pulp or wood.

By the overall appearance a mid 20th century date seems correct and when items have been well cared for it is often hard to tell.

Best regards,

Michael

Michael -

We believe what you are seeing is the substrate layer that is applied over the metal body. Enamel is actually a paste of ground colored glass that is applied to metal and fired in a kiln. It is really just melted glass. Needless to say, a wood bodied article could not stand the heat.

Lacquer can be applied over metal, wood or even ceramic. When your vase was constructed, a thin metal body was enameled on the inside and fired. This gives it rigidity - and rigidity prevents the lacquer from peeling off. This type of enamel lined construction is often seen in Japanese Meiji cloisonne.

The outside of the vase body was then covered in a thin silk or linnen cloth that provides a base for the lacquer to stick. An adhesive paste was brushed on the cloth. Then a thin lacquer layer was applied, allowed to dry, sanded smooth and the process repeated many times.

As far as the quality goes, it is about as nice as they get for contemporary 20th C pieces. It may not be that old now, but it should be preserved for future generations and it's value will rise over time.

Cheers

Doug & Moyra,

That makes sense, thank you.

I also have a 19th century Chinese carved lacquer vase that has a composition body but the interior and base are painted in black resin, not fired enamel.

Thanks again,

Michael

Michael -

Yes, definitely 19th - probably export - circa 1890's. Look at the bottom carefully and see if at one time it bore a handpainted CHINA mark on it. If not, it is possibly pre-1890 a bit. The black lacquer over the thin metal base is typical. A nice piece in good condition. The carving quality is pretty decent indeed. A general rule of thumb is that the better the carving quality the older the piece - although for every rule in carved laquer there are always numerous exceptions. Great addition to a collection.

Cheers

Thank you Doug & Moyra,

Yes, this vase has no traces of the CHINA mark.

Also, I failed to mention size; 30 cm tall.

A feature of this vase is a complete theme in the carving; seven sages are shown with one attendant.

Best regards,

Michael

Michael -

All Chinese exports to the USA after 1891 were marked with a CHINA origin mark which was generally painted on the bottom. This became replaced with MADE IN CHINA paper labels sometime in the 1930's. Assuming your vase was never marked, it was either made before 1891 or after 1930 something. But we believe that starting during the Republic of China era vases were generally metal bodied with blue enamel, so being wood bodied it was probably made before 1891. Stylistically, it is much closer to 20th C than 18th. If it were marked CHINA it would be totally believable as early 20th. Specifically it has high relief scrolls, lacks a key fret border, and the landscape design is one of countinuous carving not divided into separate panels. The quality of carving is decent, but not precise as found in the 18th C.(This is a dangerous generalization because there are some very high quality 19th C examples but they are rare.) So our best guess is later 19th - maybe 1870 - 1890's.

To quote Borat, Very Niiice!

Michael& others,

The first vase is Japanese, this is due to the many enlarged chrysanthemums found on the vase.

The chrysanthemums are a national symbol in Japan; another reason for my attribution is the shape and enlarged handles, also typical for Japanese design.

These would normally date to the 1930's to early 40's

The second vase is indeed late 19th century Chinese export.

Regards, Edward Shumaker

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