Vintage Japanese Bijutsu Toki Vase Peacock Peony Fortune Bag Black Enamel Japan

• Brand: Bijutsu Toki (Fine Art Pottery)
• Type: Decorative Vase / Art Pottery
• Origin: Japan
• Era: Vintage (likely 1970s–1980s)
• Material: Ceramic / Porcelain
• Color: Black with multicolor enamel (green, gold, pink, white, red cord accent)
• Design: Peacock, Peony, Plum Blossom (symbolic motifs)
• Shape: Fortune Bag / Pouch Form with Rope Detail
• Condition: Pre-owned, excellent
The vase is stamped on the underside with 美術陶器 (Bijutsu Toki), which translates to “Fine Art Pottery,” and also marked Japan, confirming it as a post-WWII Japanese export piece. Based on style, production, and export markings, this vase most likely dates from the late Showa period (circa 1970s–1980s), a time when Japanese potteries created decorative wares for both domestic appreciation and overseas collectors.
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Design Highlights
• Peacock: A classic Japanese symbol of immortality, nobility, and refined beauty. The peacock is painted in rich jewel tones with detailed feather patterning.
• Peonies: Represent prosperity, wealth, and honor in Japanese art and folklore. The blossoms are rendered in soft pinks and greens with gilt accents.
• Plum Blossoms: Symbolize endurance, renewal, and resilience, a common pairing with peonies in traditional motifs.
• Fortune Bag Form: The tied-pouch shape is associated with good luck, abundance, and prosperity — a common decorative form in Japanese pottery and Kutani-influenced export pieces.
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Condition
This vase is in excellent vintage condition with:
• No chips, cracks, or major surface flaws.
• Bright and intact enamel decoration.
• Original red rope cord still attached (many examples are missing this, making this piece more desirable).
• Only light shelf wear on the base consistent with age.
Please review all photos closely, as they are part of the description.
Collector Notes
• Pieces stamped Bijutsu Toki are appreciated as examples of mid-20th century Japanese art pottery.
• The peacock and peony motif is highly collectible, and the black enamel ground is less common than lighter colorways.
• These decorative vases are often displayed as statement art objects, sometimes paired with Kutani or Satsuma pieces in themed Japanese collections.
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Why Buy This Piece?
If you collect Japanese pottery, peacock motifs, or Cowan-style export giftware, this piece offers:
• A unique sculptural form (fortune bag shape)
• Traditional Japanese symbolism
• Strong decorative impact with a high-contrast black enamel finish
• A vintage 1970s–1980s era collectible that blends Japanese tradition with mid-century export appeal