Japanese Kutani Porcelain Well Bucket Shaped Vase decorated in aka-e Meiji antique circa 1890 - signed Kutani Kankin Ken sei 12.7 cm high 319 grammes

A beautifully hand painted and highly collectable decorative antique Japanese porcelain well bucket shaped vase decorated in the traditional iron red style  - called aka-e  (赤絵). This style of decoration is usually associated with Kutani (The Nine Valleys). This bucket shaped vase dates to the late 19th century in the Meiji period (1868-1912) circa 1890. 

The body has been finely hand painted in iron red and black enamels and gilding. The main design structure is painted with a in the Kakiemon manner with a continuous floral scene that goes right around the main body.  All details are very finely painted and decorated with gilding, there is shading to the background in very fine red dots or Ishime uchi - 石目打ち. The cross bar is filled with iron red enamel with gilded stylised flowers and scrolls.

The base of the vase is marked in iron red enamel with the makers six character kanji mark - 九谷関近軒製 - Kutani Kankin Ken sei - which translates as Kutani Made by Kankin Factory. Made in the Ishikawa Prefecture in the Chūbu region of Honshu island of Japan.

This beautiful antique Japanese porcelain vase is in very good antique condition with some glaze crazing and some tiny nicks to the corner of the uprights, no cracks nor restoration, There is some wear to the gilding. Please see the images and description.

This is a highly collectable and decorative item and great for display on its own or as part of a collection antique Japanese porcelain or Kutani yaki.

The vase is approximately 5 inches (12.7 cm) high, 4 1/2 inches wide (11.4 cm) wide and 3 3/4 inches (9.5 cm) diameter. It weighs 319 grammes unpacked.