Our family is from Northern NJ. My great-grandmother befriended a lady neighbor that was a world traveler. They became very close after many years. When the lady neighbor died, she left my great-grandmother 3 pieces of porcelain. My grandmother inherited it from her; and in 2000 it was passed along to me.
I have done my research but would like to know more about this piece. The phoenix and peony blossoms are cloisonned over the gold medallion on the front. The phoenix featured on the front is the "Feng"/female/empress counterpart of the dragon (male entity) in Chinese mythology.
The phoenix is referred to in Japanese as the oh-ho, ho-ho, or hou-ou bird. The example on my vase happens to be a flying phoenix therefore, it is referred to as tobi houou. There are many spelling variations due to language translations.
I've also learned about the coralene and moriage bead work. The handles and decorative areas are designed with an ornate moriage bead application. I understand the shape of the vase may have been inspired by the Art Nouveau period.
Though I have found 2 vases with similar molds to this vase, I have not found another listing with a phoenix and peony on a gold medallion with the primary turquoise blue enamel.
The only imperfection is an area on the back of the vase where the glaze was not applied. This area is not visible when viewing the vase from the front; and I understand this to be typical of most all Nippon Vases. There are no visible cracks, no chips in the paint, and no beads missing.
If I am incorrect about any of my research, please correct me. I appreciate any direction you can provide as far as the date, series, and the estimated cost. Other vases I have found with the same shape (attached below) have sold from $395.00 - $1,200.00.
Thank you in advance for your input.
Here are some of the similar pieces I have found recently:
