Hand-Painted Royal Satsuma Dolphin Handle Vase – Moriage Enamel and Gilt Chinese Export, c. 1950 🐬🎨🏺

This is a magnificent and highly ornate porcelain vase, serving as a captivating focal point for a curated interior environment. The central scene depicts elegant figures amidst a serene landscape, surrounded by an intricate field of vibrant, raised dots.

Two majestic, heavily gilded dolphins form the handles, adding a unique, sculptural quality and immediate grandeur. The mastery of the artist is evident in the intricate details, vibrant colors, and lavish use of gold accents, which confirm this vase as a top-shelf decorative acquisition from the mid-20th century.

2. About the Royal Satsuma Vase 📖✍️✨

This vase is a work of pure decorative artistry, designed to be a prominent accent piece in any collection. Its unique, compressed ovoid shape and raised pedestal base give it a visually compelling and balanced form.

The main decorative fields consist of panels depicting a tranquil scene of figures gathered near a waterfront structure. These panels are framed by an arresting, dense background of black and teal Moriage (raised enamel dots). The delicacy of the artistry is shown in the detailed facial features of the figures and the meticulously applied gilt accenting the architecture and garments.

3. About the Maker: The Royal Satsuma Style ✍️🏛️

The "Royal Satsuma" mark on this piece is a trade name used on Chinese-made export ceramics from the mid-20th century. It refers to a style that was heavily influenced by traditional Japanese Satsuma ware, which was known for its intricate detailing and gold accents.

This piece is a product of Chinese artisans who expertly adopted and adapted the Japanese style to meet the growing demands of the Western market. The quality of the Moriage technique and the vivid polychrome enamel painting demonstrate a high level of technical skill, making it an excellent example of this period's international artistic exchange.

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

This vase belongs to a significant period in the history of international decorative arts, where Asian-inspired aesthetics were highly popular in the West. This movement, sometimes referred to as Japonisme or Chinoiserie, reflects a time when collectors and decorators sought out items that blended Eastern craftsmanship with a bold, exotic visual style.

The detailed, figural scenes, the reliance on raised enamel dots, and the liberal use of gold are all hallmarks of this mid-20th-century trend. The vase is an artifact of the global post-war economy, produced by sophisticated export workshops to satisfy the Western appetite for opulent, narrative-driven ceramics.

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This striking vase is ideal for a Curator of Global Decorative Arts or an Interior Designer specializing in maximalist or Chinoiserie style. The ideal buyer is a collector of Asian-inspired decor and a lover of bold, colorful accents.

The piece's unique, sculptural dolphin handles and its ability to act as a compelling centerpiece make it a desirable acquisition. It appeals to a collector who prioritizes visually impactful items that possess a detailed, discernible narrative and high decorative quality.

6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

This vase is valuable for its striking visual impact and the high level of craftsmanship demonstrated in its detailed artistry. The unique design, featuring heavily gilded dolphin handles and meticulously applied Moriage dots, makes it a rare and eye-catching find within the general market for Chinese export porcelain.

This piece is approximately 65 to 75 years old and has survived decades of display in excellent condition. The complexity of the mold and the dense, multi-layered decoration justify a premium valuation, securing its status as a visually rich antique asset.

7. Condition 🔎📚✨

This vintage porcelain vase is in good, display-ready condition, consistent with its age and history.

• Structural Integrity: The vase is structurally sound with no visible cracks or repairs.

• Artistry: The hand-painted scene and Moriage enamel dots are well-preserved and fully intact.

• Gilding: The gilded dolphin handles and gold accents on the rim and base show minimal, appropriate wear for an item of this vintage.

• Base: The porcelain base is free of major damage, and the mark is clearly legible.

8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

• The Dolphin Handles: The highly stylized, gilded dolphin handles are a feature borrowed from European Rococo design, demonstrating the cross-cultural blend of aesthetics in export ceramics.

• Moriage Technique: The small, raised, colored dots covering the background fields are called Moriage, a Japanese term for a technique using thick, raised enamel for texture and visual depth.

• The Yellow Glaze: The main scene is painted over a yellow-tinted crackle glaze, a deliberate feature meant to mimic the antique look of traditional Satsuma earthenware.

• Chinese Adaptation: This vase is a product of Chinese artisans who expertly adopted and adapted a Japanese style (Satsuma) for the Western market, making it a distinct historical commentary on global trade.

9. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

• Item Name: Dolphin Handle Pedestal Vase

• Maker/Style: Chinese Export (Royal Satsuma Style)

• Period: Vintage, Mid-20th Century (c. 1950s)

• Medium/Material: Glazed Porcelain, Polychrome Enamel, Gold Gilt, and Moriage Dots

• Decoration: Figural Scenic Panels and Sculptural Dolphin Handles

• Origin: China (Export Market)

• Approximate Height: 7.5 inches

• Approximate Length (Handle to Handle): 6.5 inches

• Marking Transcription (Verbatim from Base): HAND PAINTED / ROYAL SATSUMA / 中國陶瓷廠 (The characters translate to "China Ceramic Factory")