Japanese Bi Jutsu To-Ki Heisei Polychrome Matched Vases

This matched set of vases was likely made for either Otagiri or Takahashi, the two U.S. based trading companies, specializing in exports from Japan to the U.S.

Japanese Hensei Matched Vases Classic Japanese pieces are decorated with care, often to avoid covering too much of the background. Both these vases are decorated with sylvan spring, including a pair of Cockatiels perched on a cherry tree with white cherry blossoms and red hibiscus below.

The decorations were done with a combination of screen printing, airbrushing hand painting. The rim of the Large Vase is trimmed with gold and the foot of Small Vase is trimmed with gold ring.

Small Vase

5-5/8 inches tall.
4-3/4 inches in diameter at the widest point.
2-1/2 inches wide at the rim.
3-1/8 inches wide at the base.
13.8 ounces in weight.
Large Vase
10-3/8 inches tall.
4-5/8 inches in diameter at the widest point.
3-1/2 inches wide at the rim.
2-1/2 inches wide at the base.
1 pound 7.4 ounces in weight.

Japanese Hensei Matched Vases

Each vase is clearly marked with a Kanji chop. The Kanji reads: (top to bottom, right to left)

Bi (beautiful)
Jutsu (arts)

To (ceramic)
Ki (vessel)

This piece is well balanced and of a weight, style and theme seen in Japanese pieces available in San Francisco's Chinatown in the late 1980's and 1990's.

Both vases are in excellent condition with no apparent chips, cracks, crazing or repairs, no missing paint or gilt, and no apparent wear.