A pair of 19th century Japanese Imari porcelain vases and covers
the ovoid bodies painted in iron red, underglaze blue and gilt with scalloped panels depicting birds within flowering trees, the shoulders with shaped lotus panels and formalised flowering foliage, the domed covers similarly decorated with Buddhistic lion finials, one lid chipped, 69cm high (2)
This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: TP
TP Lot will be moved to an offsite storage location (Cadogan Tate, Auction House Services, 241 Acton Lane, London NW10 7NP, UK) and will only be available for collection from this location at the date stated in the catalogue. Please note transfer and storage charges will apply to any lots not collected after 14 calendar days from the auction date.

In good decorative condition commensurate with age, the bodies appearing to be in good order with no apparent cracks or breaks or restorations, the glaze with some inherent spots and blemishes, the underglaze blue with some running and smearing, in places, the iron red over glaze and gilded decoration with some scratches, and losses, the inner rims with some dirt and a few spotted marks, the interiors with old dust and dirt, the covers similarly with some smearing to the underglaze blue and with some fine scratches to the iron red and wear to the gilding, the rims with worn gilding, one cover with repair to the underside of the lion, which has been re-glued and there is evidence of old epoxy resin glue which has discoloured to a yellow colour and is smeared to the surface around the feet, the lion with wear to the gilding.

Similarly the other cover with a hairline crack which is running underneath the either side of the seated part of the lion, but which travels down to the rim, this is not visible inside but the lion finial with wear to the gilding, it appears that the lion finial may have come away to this cover too, although it does not have any evidence of the epoxy resin of the other one, the rim of this cover with an old repair break which has been re-glued, this is approximately 2.5'' in length and this has some over-painting and there is also an old blemish chip to the edge which is the width of a thumbnail and this has engrained old dirt.