By Watanabe, signed Watanabe sei
Japan, c. 1900, Meiji period (1868-1912)

Imposingly cast, this vase is of trumpet form with a sixteen-lobed flared rim. The body is finely worked in uchidashi and applied with masterfully rendered dragons, their scales meticulously incised, with golden flames emanating from their bodies. The dragons' faces are fierce, with whiskers, sharp fangs, horns, and furrowed brows. The upper dragon holds a rock crystal tama in its hand. The vase is signed underneath WATANABE sei [made by Watanabe] and stamped on the base jungin [pure silver].

HEIGHT 53 cm
WEIGHT 2.7 kg

Condition: Excellent condition with minor expected wear and few minuscule scratches.

This exceptional vase is a prime example of Meiji silverwork from the Yokohama export silver tradition. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, silver artisans in Yokohama, including Watanabe, produced finely crafted domestic and export silver objects such as bowls, vases, and presentation pieces, often stamped with high-purity marks like jungin. These works were designed to meet the demands of both the expanding global market and elite Japanese patrons, blending traditional Japanese motifs with Western forms and the technical virtuosity favored by Western tastes.

The present vase stands out among typical export silver pieces, likely created for a special commission or to be displayed at one of the World's Fairs.

Museum comparison:
Compare a closely related silver vase with a dragon, dated late 19th century, 39 cm high, from Komura Jutaro, gifted to the Imperial Palace, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, accession number 00137834.

Auction comparison:
Compare a related rock crystal sphere on a similarly rendered silver dragon, by Gyokuryuken Sanmi, dated late 19th century, at Christie's, Japanese and Korean Art, 16 March 2021, New York, lot 37 (sold for USD 62,500 or approx. EUR 66,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). For another work by the same maker, showcasing the more commonly seen, typical output of Watanabe, signed Watanabe zo, dated c. 1900, 47.6 cm long, at Sotheby's, Collections: Silver, Vertu, Ceramics, and Russian Works of Art, 19 October 2016, New York, lot 640 (sold for USD 13,750 or approx. EUR 16,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).