Featured Dragon Bud Vase - trying to get info about it and its signature

Yikes, we will type this again. I dragged the pictures onto my first version, and it opened up separate tabs and wiped out my first draft text! Ouch!

I'm trying to get info about this rather unusual bud vase. It is 4-3/4 inches high, and about 9.8 ounces in weight.

It appears to be made of glass, with internal layers providing different colors. The surface has gold painted dragons, with touches of other accent colors.

One odd detail is the heads of the dragons are blackened, apparently on purpose. I've included a close up showing that.

There is a signature in gold - it ended up as the third picture. The underside is unmarked and has a smooth coating of some sort.

Any ideas of age, origin, or the signature? Thanks in advance. Dave

 

that's got some panache to it !!!

 

Not glass but Japanese pottery, made in Kyoto by Kinkozan. I guess it dates to the early 20th c.

 

It is beautiful. The black details are probably tarnished silver.

 

Hi,
I agree with Any Jewelry. Tarnished silver heads on the dragons.
greg

 

That is some substantial tarnish then. I assume better to leave alone and NOT try to polish it?

 

Many of these gold and silver overlay vases look like this, so it is not really a problem.
Best not to do anything drastic. I would probably rub it gently with a silver polishing cloth, but that's just me.

 

I didn't think of that, and that seems like a conservative approach. I will check that out tomorrow - would be nice to have those areas make more of an impact.

 

Hi,
Most ceramic pieces use platinum instead of silver so it does not tarnish. They still call it silver although it is platinum.
greg

 

Here's the "after" picture. It helped bring out some of the detail which is nice. I'm reediting the set now and will list it on eBay for this evening.

 

That is beautiful, just enough to give it a bit more character, without polishing it to death.

 

It is beautiful! I hope that it does (or did?) well.

 

Thank you. It is active now with a few more days to go - quite a few watchers too. Dave