By KInkozan, signed Dai Nihon Kyoto Kinkozan zo and sealed Kinkozan zoJapan, Kyoto, Meiji period (1868-1912)The massive baluster-shaped vase with a long neck and flaring everted lip. The design is masterfully painted in gilt and bright polychrome enamels, depicting a majestic tennin (apsara) in graceful flight and holding up a sho (Buddhist reed instrument), her robes and heavenly scarf elegantly flowing in the wind. She is warding off the advancing Tengu King, Sojobo, who grabs at her with long sharp nails, his wings extended, and a sword attached to his back. His long, red nose is turned upwards. The reverse shows another young Buddhist angel descending into the tall trees below. Behind the trees are large mountains and the sky is covered in a gray mist, the sun shining through in spots with light blue and purple colors. The scene is painted with an astonishing amount of depth. The neck embellished with beautiful gilt and polychrome enamels depicting dense floral sprays and roundels, and with a gilt diapered floral pattern around the base. Painted in neat gold characters underneath on the pure creamy white glazed porcelain Dai Nihon Kyoto KINKOZAN zo [Made by Kinkozan, Kyoto, Great Japan] and further with an impressed seal mark KINKOZAN zo [made by Kinkozan].HEIGHT 55 cmCondition: Excellent condition with hardly any wear.Provenance: From an Austrian private estate, Vienna.The Kinkozan workshop was one of the most successful producers of so-called ‘Kyo-Satsuma’ (Kyoto Satsuma) wares. Like their equivalents from Osaka, Yokohama, and Tokyo, these pieces were Kyoto’s response to the western demand for delicately painted Japanese pottery. The exhibits at the 1867 Paris Expo fascinated the West and a great admiration for Japanese cultures known as Japonisme made exports of Kyo-Satsuma ware increase drastically.Due to the quality and size of the present vase, it is likely it was intended for an exhibition.