A Pair of Japanese Meiji Period Imari Vases by Koransha

Meiji period (1868-1912), elongated bulbous form, finely hand painted in the Imari palette with gilt highlights featuring exquisite phoenixes over vertical bands of traditional Japanese textile patterns, the underside has a blue mountain mark, the mark used in late 19th century while Fukagawa Seiji was still working with Koransha company, come together with hardwood stands.

Accompanied by a 1920s photograph of Hisashi Ito with an inscribed note reading "I believe this a photograph of a former student of my father (Prof. Horace L. Wilgus) at the University of Michigan Law School. My father spent most of his summer looking up some points of law for him when he was practicing in Japan, and refused to accept any "???" from him. H. Ito; however, sent him the two large vases (now on the living room mantel at 1547 Washtenaw, Ann Arbor) - the duty in which cost my father a considerable sum! WQW - 22 October 1964"
16 x 10 in. diameter
1547 Washtenaw is a historical building known as the Henry Simmons Frieze House. Professor Horace Wilgus (1859-1935) acquired the property in 1898, keeping it in the family until 1969.
Private Collection, Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Additional high-resolution photos are available at www.lelandlittle.com

Good condition; one vase with small area of overpaint touch-up to the orange/red field.