{"product_id":"antique-asian-imari-style-porcelain-vase-mounted-as-bronze-lamp","title":"Antique Asian Imari Style Porcelain Vase Mounted as Bronze Lamp","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis striking antique vase has been later converted into an electric table lamp and is an excellent example of richly decorated Asian export porcelain mounted in gilt bronze. Standing approximately 34 cm high overall, the piece combines a slender baluster vase with a domed cover and a well-cast stepped bronze base, creating an elegant, urn‑like silhouette that displays beautifully even without a shade.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe body is finely potted in hard, resonant porcelain and decorated in a vivid palette of underglaze cobalt blue with overglaze enamels in iron‑red, pink, green, yellow and black. The overall effect is closely related to late 19th‑ to early 20th‑century Imari and famille‑verte inspired export wares made for the European market. The decoration is laid out in vertical panels separated by narrow borders, giving the vase a faceted, almost architectural look that works especially well once mounted as a lamp.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo the front and back are large cartouches outlined in black, each containing a charming riverside bird scene. Waterfowl and small ducks stand amongst rockwork, lotus and reed foliage, with delicate blossoms overhead. These bird‑and‑water motifs are popular in both Chinese and Japanese decorative arts and symbolise harmony, peace and a tranquil life close to nature, making the lamp particularly well suited to a restful living space or bedroom. The scenes are painted with confident brushwork and a good level of detail, from the feathering on the birds to the fine stems and veining of the leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBetween the figural reserves, the ground is filled with alternating floral and foliate panels, each painted with scrolling blue foliage and sprays of chrysanthemum‑like blossoms in shades of iron‑red and orange, highlighted with soft greens. This dense but carefully balanced ornamentation continues up the neck and onto the domed cover, visually unifying the whole piece. The cover is original to the vase and has been drilled at the top to take the threaded brass rod for the lamp fitting, so that the original porcelain element remains an integral part of the design.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe vase is firmly mounted into a weighty gilt bronze base with stepped and reeded mouldings and a beaded border just beneath the shoulder. The base shows age‑consistent wear, with some mellowing and rubbing to the gilded finish and traces of earlier wiring visible underneath. A side outlet in the bronze plinth has been provided for the electric cable, and the lamp is described as ready for use, though, as with all vintage lighting, rewiring and safety testing by a qualified electrician is recommended before regular use.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCondition is generally good for an antique porcelain lamp conversion, with bright enamels, minimal surface wear and no visible restoration. There is, however, a noted hairline crack running vertically through one of the main bird cartouches; this is clearly shown in the close‑up images. The hairline appears stable and does not greatly detract from display, but it should be mentioned for accuracy. The rims of the cover and neck show minor, expected fritting from age and manufacture. The bronze mount is secure and stable, with typical patination and a few small marks from decades of handling.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis unusual, urn‑shaped porcelain lamp offers a colourful and highly decorative accent for traditional or eclectic interiors. Its combination of Asian export porcelain painting, late 19th‑\/early 20th‑century taste and quality gilt bronze mounting will appeal to collectors of antique ceramics and to decorators seeking a unique statement lighting piece. Placed on a side table, console or desk, it brings both functional light and a strong visual focal point, with the added interest of being based on an original hand‑painted antique vase rather than a modern reproduction.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Moffitts Antiques","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53587231572252,"sku":null,"price":187.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0677\/4630\/0188\/files\/57_33cf1973-f22e-4b3a-85a8-b5f4172f83ed.jpg?v=1767694890","url":"https:\/\/moffitts.co.uk\/products\/antique-asian-imari-style-porcelain-vase-mounted-as-bronze-lamp","provider":"Moffitts Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}