The cloisonne work is very elaborate and required great skill to craft. The vases are quite colorful in blue, yellow, red, pink, greens and white. There are two large flying dragons chasing a flaming pearl over water around the widest part of the vase. The ground is a lovely blue enamel with clouds created by gold cloisonne wires. There is a traditional Chinese border at the base, top and above the flying dragons. The design above the dragons is full of colorful Chinese motifs including acanthus leaves and stylized lotus blooms with curling leaves. The bottom and top rim of the vases are metal with an aged patina. Each vase has “CHINA” incised in the metal on the bottom. I date the vases to late Qing (1880 – 1911) or early Republic (1912 – 1949). The stands are dark reddish brown in color with three feet and are unmarked. They are a great fit for the vases and display the pair beautifully. Dragons are greatly admired in Chinese culture and thought to rule from the heavens over all animals. But dragons are thought to be a little greedy. They are often depicted in Chinese art as chasing a flaming pearl. They never catch it! Dragons are a favorite subject in antique Chinese cloisonne and highly sought by collectors. It is great to have a matching pair of Chinese cloisonné vases with dragons. They are difficult to find in such nice condition. The pair of dragon vases are in excellent condition for their age with age appropriate wear. There is a small dent on the body of one dragon but there is no enamel loss. The metal on the bottom has tarnish and spots. Otherwise there are no chips, cracks, dents, damages or repairs to the two vases. The stands are in excellent vintage condition with expected wear. There could be surface scratches and rubs. There are no cracks, missing pieces, repairs or damage to the stands. Approximate Dimensions – One Dragon Vase. Weight: 181.2 grams. Width across (widest point): 3 3/8. Diameter of top: 1 1/2. Diameter of base: 1 7/8. Dimensions – One Old Stand. Weight of stand: 25.6 grams. Height of stands: 3/4. Display area: 1 7/8. Matching pairs of antique Chinese cloisonné dragon vases are more difficult to find than single vases. The design on these dragon vases is more elaborate than most vases. These fine antique cloisonne vases & old stands will make a wonderful addition to a collection of Asian arts & antiques. Please note: We make every effort to accurately describe all items offered for sale. We encourage you to use your own judgment and expert advice for dating and valuing items. Examine the photos as they are part of the description. We cannot make any guarantees as to the actual age of any items offered for sale, as opinions are known to vary from one expert to another. I do not charge for packing materials. Please examine the photos to assess the condition for yourself. Other items shown in the photos are for display purposes only. The item “Fine PAIR Antique Old Chinese Cloisonne Vases Stands Dragons & Flaming Pearl” is in sale since Friday, March 29, 2019. This item is in the category “Antiques\Asian Antiques\China\Vases”. The seller is “wilderness03″ and is located in Deerfield, Virginia. This item can be shipped to United States.
- Type: Vases
- Region of Origin: China
- Age: 1880 – 1930
- Primary Material: Cloisonne
- Original/Reproduction: Original
- Color: Blue, yellow, red, green, pink, white