Pair Meiji Japanese Kutani Seizan Lamps, Gilt Birds & Cranes, Hand Painted

A magnificent pair of late Meiji-era Japanese Kutani porcelain vases, later mounted as lamps, richly hand-painted in sepia, iron-red, and gold enamels. Each depicts elegant cranes, pheasants, and songbirds amid pine and plum branches — timeless Japanese emblems of longevity, fidelity, and renewal.

The upper registers feature a distinctive raised gilt bead border and cloud-scroll giltwork, hallmarks of Meiji-period luxury wares made for domestic nobility and early export markets. Beneath each vase, the hand-inscribed red mark reads 大日本九谷精山造 (Dainippon Kutani Seizan-zō), translating to "Great Japan, Kutani, made by Seizan."

This specific "Dainippon" signature identifies production between circa 1890 and 1912, when Japanese makers proudly signed their works with the imperial national title.

Origin: Kutani, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan

Artist / Mark: Seizan-zō (精山造)

Period: Late Meiji to early Taishō, circa 1890-1910

Medium: Porcelain with hand-painted overglaze enamels and raised gilt

Motifs: Cranes, pheasants, plum blossoms, pines, and peonies

Lamp Mounts: Later conversion (likely 1930s-50s) with dual-socket brass fittings

Height: Approx. 26 in (to socket); vase body 14 in

Condition: Excellent antique condition with gentle gilt wear and patina to fittings. Original cloth wiring should be inspected before use.

This pair reflects the transition from traditional Meiji art to Western Art-Deco sensibilities—ideal for collectors of Japanese porcelain, fine lighting, or Orientalist interiors.

✨ Authentic Meiji-era Kutani porcelain, signed Seizan-zō

🐦 Hand-painted cranes & songbirds - symbols of harmony and long life

🎨 Raised gilt bead borders with Imperial "Dainippon" mark

💡 Early 20th-century lamp mounts with dual sockets

🏠 A true East-meets-West statement for refined