Antique Japanese Meiji Dragon Vases – Signed 'Dai Nippon' – Sawari Bronze (Pair)
Rated 5.0 out of 5.€1.450,00
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- Weight
- 3.8 kg
- Reference
- 539
Antique Japanese Meiji Dragon Vases – Signed Dai Nippon – Pair
Impressive pair of Japanese bronze vases from the Meiji period, richly decorated with dragons in high relief. The vases feature a powerful vertical form, a dark metallic sheen, and a highly decorative appearance that fits seamlessly into a Japanese, classic, or eclectic interior.
The dragons are rendered in strongly raised relief all around the vases. This gives the pair great depth and movement. The skin, claws, and winding bodies are vividly modeled, ensuring the vases do not appear flat or standard, but truly present as sculptural objects.
The underside is marked with a Japanese signature stating “Dai Nippon,” literally “Great Japan.” This type of marking is consistent with export and workshop work from the Meiji period, a time when Japanese bronze founders were highly appreciated internationally for their technical craftsmanship and decorative power.
The metal has a dark silvery tone and a clear resonance. The scratch and sound tests indicate a hard, tin-rich bronze alloy, possibly related to Sawari or white bronze. In the recessed sections, subtle traces of old gold-colored accents are still visible, especially in the scale structure of the dragons.
In Japanese and East Asian art, the dragon represents strength, protection, dignity, and celestial energy. As a matching pair, these vases have a strong symmetrical effect and are particularly suitable as statement pieces on a cabinet, console, pedestal, or in a collection of Japanese Meiji art.
Product details
| Object | Pair of Japanese dragon vases |
| Origin | Japan |
| Period | Meiji period, c. 1880–1900 |
| Presentation | Dragons in high relief |
| Material | Tin-rich bronze alloy / possibly Sawari or white bronze |
| Signature | Marked with Dai Nippon |
| Meaning | Power, protection, dignity and heavenly energy |
| Dimensions | H 25 x W 16.5 cm |
| Weight | 3.8 kg together |
| Condition | Good antique condition with patina, normal signs of age and light wear commensurate with age and use. |
Research & verification
This object has been examined for material, patina, signature and historical consistency.
View our research methodEach object is examined before it is offered: material, casting or carving technique, surface, and signs of age are compared with documented references. You will receive a certificate of authenticity and an official invoice detailing the period, material, and available provenance.
Fully insured worldwide shipping in museum-quality packaging. Returns are sent to our Dutch address and you have a 14-day cooling-off period.
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How we investigated this image
For more than 30 years, we have been researching Asian art. Each object is inspected in advance with a microscope and UV light. Findings regarding material, style, and iconography form the basis for our assessment of dating, condition, and quality — and for the price.
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