Antique Japanese Meiji Dragon Vases – Signed 'Dai Nippon' – Sawari Bronze (Pair)
€1,450Bid from €1,305
0 are viewing this item0 favorites
Buy with confidence
Shop & pay safely with Buyer ProtectionDesigner items curated by WhoppahWe only pay the seller once you have safely received the item
Trusted payment methods
Top rated on
About this seller
Private seller
Damme, GermanyOn Whoppah since February 2025 • 3 sales
Product description
Antique Japanese Meiji Dragon Vases – Signed Dai Nippon – Pair
An impressive pair of Japanese bronze vases from the Meiji period, richly adorned with dragons in high relief. The vases feature a powerful vertical form, a dark metallic luster, and a highly decorative aesthetic that perfectly suits a Japanese, classical, or eclectic interior.
The dragons are elaborately depicted all around the vases in strong, raised relief. This imparts significant depth and movement to the pair. Their skin, claws, and winding bodies are vividly modeled, ensuring the vases do not appear flat or ordinary, but rather stand out as true sculptural objects.
The underside is marked with a Japanese signature that includes “Dai Nippon,” literally meaning “Great Japan.” This type of marking is characteristic of export and workshop pieces from the Meiji period, a time when Japanese bronze casters were highly valued internationally for their technical craftsmanship and decorative prowess.
The metal possesses a silvery dark tone and a clear resonance. Scratch and sound tests indicate a hard, tin-rich bronze alloy, possibly related to Sawari or white bronze. In the recessed areas, subtle traces of old gilded accents are still visible, especially within the scaled texture of the dragons.
In Japanese and East Asian art, the dragon symbolizes strength, protection, dignity, and celestial energy. As a matching pair, these vases create a strong symmetrical effect and are particularly well-suited as statement pieces on a cabinet, console, pedestal, or within a collection of Japanese Meiji art.
Product Details
Object: Pair of Japanese Dragon Vases
Origin: Japan
Period: Meiji Period, c. 1880–1900
Depiction: Dragons in High Relief
Material: Tin-rich Bronze Alloy / possibly Sawari or White Bronze
Signature: Marked with Dai Nippon
Symbolism: Strength, Protection, Dignity, and Celestial 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 minor wear consistent with age and use.
Research & Verification
This object has been examined for material, patina, signature, and historical consistency. View our research methodology.
Additional details:
- Brand: 1stbuddha
- Style: Japans
- Style: Meiji
- Material: Sawari
- Material: Witbrons
- Colour: Donker
- Colour: Goud
- Period: Meiji-periode, ca. 1880–1900
- availability: in_stock
- product_type: Vaas
Specifications
CategoryVasesConditionGoodColorsSilverMaterialBronzeSeller locationDamme, GermanyDelivery optionsDelivery or pickup