An Early Japanese Awaji Pottery Vase Meiji Period

Established in Awaji Island in Japan circa 1830s, Awaji pottery thrived and reinvented itself for over 100 years until 1939 when the last kilns closed. Among a wide range of designs it produced, one monochrome and multichrome glazed ware in the late 19th century were known for their awareness of the Western market, featuring simpler organic form and brightly applied high glossy glaze. Many of these pieces showed off a bold and confident use of nearly iridescent colors and tones, often mottled in a hypnotic effect, with a very modern appearance. In the west, it was sometimes called "Flambe" style, but technically it was mostly a misnomer as most of these ware did not go through a glaze transmutation.
On offer is such a vase, with brilliant cobalt blue, peacock green and turquoise hues on an oval organic form. The colored glaze were artistically rendered in a melting grotto style. There is a visible cream clay base partially unglazed as well as an old collecting label. This piece is not labeled as the labeling with Chadoi, flags or Japan started around 1880s. The wear on the glaze around the mouth rim also indicates a certain age. We therefore dated the piece to circa 1870-80s late Meiji period, in keeping with the collection label attached.