Kutani Ware Ewer with Dragon Handle

Name: Kutani Ware Ewer with Dragon Handle
Brand: bruinsma
Availability: LimitedAvailability

Japanese Kutani porcelain ewer with iron-red and gold decoration, dragon handle, and floral medallions, late 19th century. - view 1

1/3

Estimated value

$150 - $450

Rarity

Average(4/10)

KUTANI WARE EWER WITH DRAGON HANDLE: IDENTIFICATION

A Japanese Kutani porcelain ewer featuring a slender neck, flared rim, and a characteristic S-curved spout. The piece is decorated in the Kinrande style, utilizing iron-red (aka-e) enamel grounds highlighted with extensive gold (kin) gilding. A dragon-form handle joins the neck to the shoulder. Medallions on the body contain hand-painted floral motifs and mythological figures, while the surrounding field is filled with dense geometric and scrolling clouds (yunwen) patterns.

Compare with other ceramic pieces in the archive: Miniature Japanese Kutani Porcelain Tea Set Components, Showa Era (mid-20th century), Kutani Ware Daruma Censer (Koro), Japanese Lithophane Teacup, Showa Era, circa 1930-1950.

PRODUCTION & FIRING

Following the 1853 opening of Japan, Kutani porcelain from Ishikawa Prefecture became a major export to the West, particularly during the Meiji period (1868–1912). This specific aesthetic, known as 'Shoza' style after the artist Kutani Shoza (1816–1883), blended traditional polychrome enamels with ...

SCARCITY

Average55-70%

CommonLegendary

Typical antique shop fare. Requires some searching but regularly available. This is where most genuine antiques fall.

Rarity 4/10. Curiosa currently catalogues 101 ceramics items at rarity 4 or higher.

Typical Characteristics

Standard antique shop items
Regularly available
Moderate collector interest

Confidence Factors

Stylistic consistency with late 19th-century Meiji export porcelain
Typical 'Shoza' color palette and gilding wear patterns
Form is a standard export shape documented in late 19th-century catalogs

How does authenticity detection work?

CERAMICIST'S ASSESSMENT

Ceramics Historian & Kiln Specialist

Ceramics Expert

The form, color palette, and decorative scheme are classic indicators of Meiji-era Kutani; however, the lack of a visible base mark and the missing lid prevent a higher confidence score.

KEY EVIDENCE

1Characteristic iron-red enamel color specific to Kutani kilns
2Use of Kinrande (gold brocade) technique consistent with Meiji export era
3Dragon-form handle modeled in the round, a common motif for the 1890-1910 period
4Medallion composition featuring traditional kacho-ga (bird and flower) and mythological elements
5White porcelain paste visible at the rim and spout interior

UNCERTAINTIES

•Missing original lid/stopper, which significantly impacts market value
•Blurred resolution on the base prevents verification of the 'Kutani' (九谷) mark

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

→Provide a high-resolution photograph of the base to examine the kiln mark or artist signature
→Perform a light-transparency test to confirm the thinness and purity of the porcelain body
→Inspect the dragon's scales for any losses or professional restoration (UV light test)

CONDITION & GRADE

Good (without lid)

Grading breakdown

The primary detraction is the absence of the lid; however, the enamel integrity remains high with minimal visible crazing.

Condition

Visible rubbing to the gilding on the high-contact areas of the dragon handle and spout tip. The rim appears intact, though a missing lid is a significant factor as most ewers of this form were originally produced with matching stoppers.