Antique Hand-Painted Porcelain Vase with Mythical Creature Motifs, 19th Century

A striking antique porcelain vase featuring an intricate hand-painted design in charcoal and cream tones. The surface depicts a dynamic procession of stylized mythical creatures—deer, birds, and winged beasts—set amid delicate floral and foliate borders. The painterly quality of the decoration, with its rhythmic patterning and fluid brushwork, reflects an early artisan’s mastery of both symmetry and spontaneity.

The vase’s tall, elegant silhouette is balanced by a flared rim and tapered base, creating a commanding yet graceful presence. The glaze has developed a soft, even craquelure consistent with age, lending the piece a beautiful patina and tactile depth.

Visible age cracks (most notably running vertically along one side) do not detract from its visual appeal—instead adding a poetic sense of history and authenticity, reminiscent of the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi beauty in imperfection.

Provenance:

From a private collection.

Dimensions:

15” H × 10” D

Condition:

Evidence of age and wear with visible crack and restoration to one side; otherwise structurally stable. Surface craquelure and minor glaze irregularities consistent with age.