Chinese Dragon & Hundred-Flowers Vase — Qianlong-Style Mark, Famille-Rose Palette — Large 34 cm Display Vessel (Found in Japan)

Overview & Cultural Context

This is a large-format Chinese-style porcelain vase decorated in an exuberant “dragon through a sea of flowers” program—an image language that compresses power, protection, and abundance into a single object meant to command a room. In traditional visual culture, the dragon is not a villain but a cosmic regulator: rain-bringer, seasonal governor, and emblem of legitimate authority. When the dragon is set against a dense floral field, the message shifts from imperial austerity to cultivated prosperity—strength held inside beauty.

The base is presented with a Qianlong-style reign mark (“Qianlong nian zhi” style). In the market, this type of mark frequently signals style lineage rather than a guaranteed imperial-era date—especially when an object appears in contemporary Japanese auctions or mixed collections. For buyers, that distinction matters less than the object’s function: a bold, high-impact display vessel with an intentionally classical vocabulary. We catalogue it as a Chinese work in Qing-dynasty taste, later preserved and circulated in Japan.

At 34 cm tall and approximately 23 cm wide, this scale sits above casual shelf décor. It reads as a pedestal piece, an entryway anchor, or a “single-object” focal point that can stand alone without additional styling. The silhouette—broad shoulder, controlled neck, and stable foot—supports the visual density of the painting without looking top-heavy.

The color strategy is equally deliberate. The dragon’s saturated cobalt-blue body cuts through the warm florals to create depth and movement, while the flowers—layered across the body—build a wall of pattern that feels celebratory rather than delicate. This kind of maximal surface is a collector signal: it’s meant to be looked at up close as well as from across a room.

Material, Technique & Artistic Character

This vase is porcelain (or fine ceramic) with polychrome overglaze enamels. Dense floral decoration like this typically requires repeated, controlled applications to maintain clarity in outlines while keeping the palette luminous. The surface program suggests the maker aimed for “full coverage” visual authority—no empty reserves—so the eye continually finds detail: petals, leaves, rhythmic borders, and the dragon’s scaled body.

The floral field aligns with the “hundred flowers” (wanhua) spirit: not literally a count, but a concept of abundance and seasonal plenitude. In Qing taste and later revival works, this decoration functions like a prosperity map—an environment where life is always returning.

Iconography & Symbolic Function

In Chinese symbolism, the dragon is an auspicious force tied to water, weather, and renewal. As a domestic object, a dragon vessel can be read as a guardian of the household’s “flow”—wealth, opportunity, and protection—especially when paired with flowers associated with good fortune (peony for wealth, chrysanthemum for longevity, and mixed blooms for seasonal harmony).

Because the dragon is rendered in motion across the body, the object carries a kinetic presence. That “circulating” energy is exactly why dragon ceramics remain popular in interior styling: they look alive, not static.

Why Collectors Buy This Kind of Vase

Collectors gravitate to large dragon-floral vessels for three reasons. First: presence—few ceramics create an instant focal point the way a saturated dragon body does. Second: narrative density—dragon + floral abundance reads as power balanced by refinement, a message that works equally well in modern minimal spaces and maximal interiors. Third: flexibility—this can live on a pedestal, in a tokonoma-like niche, in a lobby setting, or as a pair with complementary blue-and-white forms.

Key Facts

• Object type: Large Chinese-style porcelain / ceramic display vase
• Motif: Dragon amid dense floral “hundred flowers” field
• Mark: Qianlong-style reign mark (style lineage; not presented as proof of period)
• Dimensions: approx. H 34 cm × W 23 cm
• Country of origin: China (found/preserved in Japan)

Condition

Visible condition is best judged from the auction photos. The listing indicates no standout damage; however, ceramics should be treated as potentially fragile and handled accordingly. Please expect minor age/handling marks consistent with display and storage.

Shipping & Handling

This piece can generally ship via premium parcel services due to its size, but will be treated as fragile ceramics requiring professional packing. We will use reinforced double-boxing, edge protection, and internal cushioning to prevent movement.

Confidence & Verification Notes

We describe this as Chinese-style porcelain with a Qianlong-style mark, commonly used to indicate stylistic tradition. Without independent lab testing or workshop documentation, specific period attribution should be treated as probable / stylistic rather than guaranteed. Our description is based on visible form, decoration program, and standard market conventions.

Explore the Collection

To browse related sacred works and culturally significant objects curated under the same standards, explore our Buddhist Statues & Sacred Art collection.

Authenticity & Stewardship

Evaluated under the Japonista Authentication Framework™:

• Material, carving, and surface-study comparison
• Iconographic and stylistic verification
• Condition and stability review (surface integrity)
• Construction assessment and handling-risk evaluation

Guaranteed 100% Authentic. Covered by the Japonista Lifetime Authenticity Warranty™.

A Note on Stewardship and Collecting

At Japonista, we approach Buddhist statues, sacred images, and ritual objects not merely as collectibles, but as cultural and spiritual artifacts deserving of respect, understanding, and careful presentation. Every piece we offer is thoughtfully examined, researched, and curated with sensitivity to its origin, meaning, and historical role.

Our role is not only to offer access to rare and meaningful objects, but to serve as responsible custodians—connecting the right works with collectors who value depth, intention, and authenticity.

Inquiries, Availability, and Private Consideration

Some sacred works may allow room for discussion, while others are held firmly due to rarity, condition, or cultural importance. All inquiries are reviewed personally and discreetly, and we welcome thoughtful questions or expressions of interest.

If you are exploring a particular theme, deity, lineage, or period—or seeking guidance in building a focused collection—our concierge team is always available to assist with quiet expertise and care.

Concierge Support & Collector Guidance

Japonista Concierge™ provides personalized assistance for collectors seeking deeper understanding, thoughtful acquisition, or long-term curation strategies. Whether your interest is devotional, scholarly, or aesthetic, we are here to help guide your journey with clarity and respect.

For select high-value or historically significant works, private reservation or structured payment arrangements may be available on a case-by-case basis. Please reach out to discuss eligibility and discreet options.

Before Proceeding

We kindly encourage collectors to review our shop policies and house guidelines, available through the links in our website footer, which outline shipping, handling, and conditions specific to vintage, sacred, and collectible works.

A Closing Note

Thank you for exploring Japonista’s collection of Buddhist statues, sacred art, and spiritual artifacts. We are honored to share these meaningful works and to help place them where they may continue to be appreciated, studied, and respected.

If you have questions or wish to explore related works, please feel free to contact Japonista Concierge™ at any time.