About This Piece Against a glossy, deep lapis-blue ground, a richly gold-decorated male pheasant extends his magnificent long tail beside a female, surrounded by vivid pink peonies and red-berried nandina, creating a striking Arita Ware vase filled with color and intricate detail. Pheasant Motif This Arita Ware (有田焼) vase is a work by Takamatsu (高松), featuring a richly detailed composition of two pheasants (雉), peonies, and nandina across its rounded body. The large male pheasant immediately draws the eye. He stands on an old tree stump, turning his head toward the smaller female positioned nearby. The male is rendered primarily in gold, together with red, blue, brown, and other colors. Fine lines and patterns describe the overlapping feathers across his wings and breast, while his sharply defined eye and beak, together with his long tail, give the male pheasant a powerful appearance. Especially impressive is the long tail rising prominently from the male pheasant toward the upper part of the vase. Predominantly decorated in gold, the tail features continuous fine patterns, with the individual feathers carefully distinguished. The expansive golden tail stands out vividly against the deep lapis-blue ground. Beside him is the smaller female pheasant. Her size, feather colors, and shorter tail are clearly differentiated from those of the male, with the two birds arranged facing toward one another. Peonies and Nandina Surrounding the two pheasants are large pink peonies (牡丹), green foliage, and nandina (南天) bearing small red berries. The peonies are depicted with numerous overlapping pink petals defined by fine lines. Green leaves spread around the flowers, while clusters of small red nandina berries are distributed throughout the composition. The gold-dominated pheasants, pink peonies, green foliage, and red nandina berries form a richly varied decorative composition across the deep lapis-blue ground. Color and Decoration One of the defining visual features of this piece is the contrast between its glossy, deep lapis-blue ground and the gold decoration (金彩) and vivid colors applied over it. The gold of the male pheasant, pink of the peonies, green foliage, and red nandina berries stand out clearly against the dark blue surface. Gold decoration is used extensively on the large male pheasant, while a fine gold-colored border also accents the rim. Mark and Period A gold-colored inscription appears on the side of the vase, with a red seal beneath it. This piece dates from the Showa period (昭和時代). Form The vase has a generously rounded body, narrowing from the shoulders toward the mouth. Its broad body is used as a large pictorial surface, with the long-tailed male pheasant forming the central motif and the female pheasant, peonies, and nandina arranged around him. Areas of deep lapis blue remain visible between the motifs, clearly defining the individual elements of the composition. Auspicious Meaning of the Pheasant and Peony The pheasant is the national bird of Japan and has also been used as an auspicious motif in Japanese traditional crafts. As a bird known for sensing and signaling danger, it has also been associated with protection and warding off misfortune. In this piece, a male and female pair of pheasants is combined with blooming peonies in a single composition. A pair of pheasants is associated with marital harmony and the prosperity of future generations, while the peony carries auspicious associations with wealth, honor, and prosperity. Together, the pheasant and peony form an auspicious combination associated with wishes for family prosperity and lasting good fortune. Condition Overall, the vase is in good condition, with no chips or cracks. As this is an older piece from the Showa period, there may be minor scratches or dirt that are difficult to see in the photographs. Please also refer to the photographs for the actual condition. Important Information 1. Interior Display Images Interior display images are virtually created for presentation purposes; the artwork itself has not been edited or altered. Please refer to the stated dimensions for actual size and the original photographs for actual color and condition. 2. Shipping to Italy Italian customs may require additional inspections. Any related costs are the buyer’s responsibility, and inspections may delay customs clearance and delivery. 3. Shipping, Import Duties and Customs Clearance As this is a fragile item, it will be carefully packed and shipped via DHL or Japan Post. Delivery usually takes approximately 1–2 weeks but may take longer due to customs or local delivery conditions. Import duties, taxes, customs fees, and other related charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost and are the buyer’s responsibility. If the item is returned due to refusal of these charges or delivery, or failure to complete required customs procedures, all return and reshipping costs are the buyer’s responsibility. Thank you for your understanding.