Hichōzan Shinpo Pair Of Large Vases Lions Shishi Imari Japan Arita 19th 50cm Porcelain

Pair of Arita Hichōzan Shinpo Japanese vases, shishi lions, 19th

Very fine pair of Japanese porcelain vases from Arita / Hizen, with polychrome Imari decoration, bearing under the base the red mark "Dai Nippon Hichōzan Shinpo zō", i.e. "Great Japan, Hichōzan Shinpo, made by".

The mark refers to the house of Hichōzan Shinpo, linked to the merchant Tashiro Monzaemon and the production of Arita for Western export in the second half of the 19th century. This production took place between the end of the Edo period and the beginning of the Meiji era, around 1856-1880.

The two vases feature an elegant form with ovoid body, narrow neck and wide corolla opening. The decoration unfolds on a white background, with deep cobalt blue, red, green and orange enamels and gold highlights. The composition features shishi lions, peonies, irises, stylized flowers, foliage, rocks and water motifs. The necks are adorned with ascending flowering stems, reinforcing the vertical decorative effect.

The two vases do not mechanically repeat the same decoration, but respond to each other. The shishi lions, plant masses, flowers and scrolls are arranged in a complementary manner, like twin scenes designed to work together. This counterpart logic is characteristic of large 19th-century Japanese export objects, intended to be placed on either side of a piece of furniture, a mantelpiece or in a collector's interior.

The decoration has a strong symbolic significance in the Sino-Japanese tradition. The shishi lion, from the Buddhist bestiary and derived from the Chinese guardian lion, is a protective figure associated with strength, vigilance and spiritual power. It wards off harmful influences and embodies beneficial energy. The peony, often associated with the shishi, evokes wealth, rank, fulfillment and sovereign beauty. Together, they form a motif of prosperity and protection. The scrolls, flowers and aquatic elements add an idea of growth, vitality and natural harmony.

The composition is remarkable for its movement. Large blue solids structure the body with vigor, red and orange flowers add luminous accents, and gold highlights give the decoration a precious vibrancy. The expressive design of the shishi blends animal energy, decorative fantasy and Japanese ornamental tradition. The whole retains a beautiful visual presence, with a successful alternation between the density of the decoration and the breath of the white background.

Good overall condition for 19th-century pieces. Please note: small chips on the collar and a chip, visible on the corrugated edges. Some wear to the gold highlights, traces of age and small firing irregularities consistent with early manufacture. Very presentable decorative set, no fel , no restoration.

Dimensions: height 50 cm and 48 cm approx. Width: approx. 22 cm.