Antique Nippon Hand-Painted Bird & Floral Wall Pocket Vase, Cherry Blossom Mark, c. 1900–1921

Antique Nippon Hand-Painted Bird & Floral Wall Pocket Vase, Cherry Blossom Mark, c. 1900–1921

A very small piece of wall decor with a very large personality.

Dating to the Nippon era, circa 1900–1921, this antique Japanese wall pocket features a wonderfully dimensional bird perched among pink blossoms and sculpted green leaves, all set against a glossy lavender-blue ground. The hand-painted palette is unapologetically good: emerald green, cobalt blue, warm brown, sunny yellow and candy pink, layered together with the kind of exuberance early Japanese export pottery did particularly well.

The bird projects dramatically from the front, giving the piece almost as much sculptural presence as a figurine, while the open pocket at the top was designed to hold flowers or greenery. An integrated slot on the reverse makes it ready to hang.

The reverse bears the circular “Hand Painted Nippon” Cherry Blossom backstamp, a recognized mark from the Nippon period. The word “Nippon,” meaning Japan, was used on Japanese export ceramics made for the American market before U.S. import requirements shifted to “Japan” in 1921.

Details

• Antique Japanese ceramic wall pocket vase
• Nippon era, circa 1900–1921
• Hand-painted and sculptural decoration
• Dimensional bird and floral motif
• Glossy lavender-blue ground
• Pink blossoms with green leaves
• Vibrant brown, blue, green and yellow bird
• Marked Hand Painted Nippon with Cherry Blossom backstamp
• Integrated hanging slot on reverse
• Early 20th-century Japanese export pottery

Condition: Very good antique condition with minor surface wear and signs of age consistent with a piece over 100 years old. The glaze remains beautifully glossy and the original colors exceptionally vibrant. Please review all photos closely for condition and character.

Flowers shown for styling purposes only and are not included.

Over a century old and still refusing to blend into the background.