Found a Dragon Jar, Help on Background please!

[ashleyj]

Hi,
I was looking through my Mom's cupboards and found this dragon jar, if you know anything about it please let me know. It looks hand-carved. I know it is not a garage sale find, but I thought you guys would still help me out. There is no identifiable markings.

 

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[diggummup]

You say "carved", it's not wooden is it? I would call it a vase versus a jar.

 

[ashleyj]

You say "carved", it's not wooden is it? I would call it a vase versus a jar.

It is pottery, so I guess it would be better to say hand sculpted. And yes vase would be a better term.

 

[cyberdan]

Yes, I can tell it is hand thrown pottery, with the dragons added later. When I was in Hong Kong I would see lots of small mom and pop stores that sold this type of stuff. It is very Chinese.

 

[diggummup]

I thought so but I had to ask. Yes it's Chinese, by the style of the dragon and it has 5 toes (Japanese dragons have only 3). The clay is termed redware or terracotta. I'd say it's probably from the early 20th century but it's hard to date Chinese or Asian pottery in general, for me anyway. It's a specific field. Here is one that recently sold on eBay, exactly like yours for $85-

Antique Terracotta Chinese Raised Dragon Relief Vase | eBay

 

[Doubter in MD]

I thought so but I had to ask. Yes it's Chinese, by the style of the dragon and it has 5 toes (Japanese dragons have only 3). The clay is termed redware or terracotta. I'd say it's probably from the early 20th century but it's hard to date Chinese or Asian pottery in general, for me anyway. It's a specific field. Here is one that recently sold on eBay, exactly like yours for $85-

Great job! You nailed it.

 

[ashleyj]

I thought so but I had to ask. Yes it's Chinese, by the style of the dragon and it has 5 toes (Japanese dragons have only 3). The clay is termed redware or terracotta. I'd say it's probably from the early 20th century but it's hard to date Chinese or Asian pottery in general, for me anyway. It's a specific field. Here is one that recently sold on eBay, exactly like yours for $85-

Antique Terracotta Chinese Raised Dragon Relief Vase | eBay

Wow thank you, I will tell my mom, that is really helpful!!!

 

[GibH]

I learn something almost daily here. I now know how to tell the difference between a Chines and Japanese dragon.

 

[cyberdan]

I learn something almost daily here. I now know how to tell the difference between a Chines and Japanese dragon.

How do you tell the difference between Chinese and Japanese women?

Even many Chinese women can't do that. I have lost track of the amount of times Chinese women came up to my wife and start talking Chinese. Of course she does not understand a word they are saying. My wife is Japanese.

 

[scaupus]

4 toed dragons!

I learn something almost daily here. I now know how to tell the difference between a Chines and Japanese dragon.

yes, and no. Chinese dragons have anywhere from 3 to 5 toes. 5 toes were reserved for the emperor, 4 for aristocrats and 3 for commoners. After the 1912 revolution, anyone could own or sell an "imperial" 5 toed dragon, and no one wanted less than the imperial 5 toes, so "all" 20th century Chinese dragons had 5 toes. Chinese 4 toed dragons are less common, and more valuable than 5 toed, as they are almost certainly older, and of higher quality. Looking at the pictures of this vase, it has 5 toes, so was made in the 20th century. But the dragon in the vase that sold for $85 on ebay has 4 toes! Check the difference in artistic quality of the dragon sculpture on this page, and the one sold on ebay. I would say the one on ebay is probably more valuable than the one on this page.