Handpainted MCI Japan Porcelain Cobalt Vase With Cherry Blossom and Bird Motif

Very pretty vase. Perfect Chinoiserie accent. Great vintage condition. There is some wear to the goldleaf around the top of the vase. It is 11 inches tall. Japanese pottery, known as tōjiki, yakimono, or tōgei, is one of the oldest Japanese crafts and art forms, dating back to the Neolithic period. In the 20th century a homegrown cottage ceramics industry began to take root and emerge, with major Japanese ceramic companies including MCI, Noritake, and Toto Ltd. Production of "MCI Japan" wares occurred after the Meiji Restoration (1868) when Japan opened its borders, and export trade increased significantly. Chinoiserie first gained popularity in Europe in the 18th century. Europeans had a fascination with Asia due to their increased, but still restricted, access to new cultures through expanded trade with East Asia, especially China. The 'China' indicated in the term 'chinoiserie' represented in European people's mind a wider region of the globe that could embrace China itself, but also Japan, Korea, South-East Asia, India or even Persia.