AN UNUSUAL JAPANESE LACQUERED IRON VASE

AN UNUSUAL JAPANESE LACQUERED IRON VASE
MEIJI ERA, 19TH CENTURY

The heavy pear-shaped body with a tall flaring neck and a rough ishime surface imitating stone, decorated in gold hiramaki-e lacquer with Kannon standing on a writhing dragon, the Goddess of Mercy depicted with elegantly flowing robes; the long body of the mythical creature partially obscured behind scrolling clouds rendered in lacquered wires, 39.5cm.