Featured Samurai Lamp

My first reaction was Wow.
And I was paddling in the same boat as Blooey.

However, after looking around, my concern is the lavender background. I can find Samuri vases in which it is just the warrior in a fighting pose. The colors are almost always beiges, tans and gold. I can find nothing in this coloring.

I would not put this any earlier than the 1950s, if even that early.

Let me add, I'm no expert. Only my opinion.
And yes, I like it as well. I think it nicely done.

 

Thanks for sharing your opinions. That’s what I was looking for. To me the faces look great idk. What era does it not look correct to? Seller was claiming mid century as in 1950ish I believe not 1850ish. I was surely hoping earlier but wasn’t sure. I’m no expert either.

 

Not sure on marks or decal vs. hand painted. Did ask some questions of seller and will update on replies. I assumed hand painted but I’ve been wrong plenty.

 

Glad I wasn’t alone. I mean who knows based on four photos but I was thinking along the same lines.

 

The color was what intrigued and also confused me. Based on blooey’s observations however I’ve been able to find several pieces attributed to Kinkozan that feature a similar violet/lavender purple. Not as dramatically purple as the lamp but quite similar IMHO.

 

Thanks for all the great resources and responses. Nice to know my eye wasn’t too far astray. I kept looking at it and closing the listing, looking and closing, looking again. Finally had to see what others thought.

 

They have plenty of room to breathe and be appreciated! You’re able to really take them in and their gear is pretty great.

 

As I mentioned earlier, I retract by "damaged" assessment and place this vase somewhere between 1890 and 1910. Hope you end up getting it!

 

Never seen similar.

Here is a different samurai lamp on the Goodwill website. Not the same at all as J Dagger's post, but wondering if these were a thing in the 1950s?

https://www.google.com/search?q=vin...poLa4Ag&bih=597&biw=1218#imgrc=LdYNc0djsfXXMM

I'm not expert, but first thought was that the look of the faces (a bit cartoonish as someone said), looks more vintage to me than antique, but the rest of the lamp does sort of have an antique feel. What a mystery! I would LOVE to see the plug. Any chance the seller could take a photo of the plug and send it, J Dagger?

I guess I'd be more interested if the lamp was older, like 1890s or 1900s as some have suggested.

If buying for resale you may want to make a judgement if it was antique or vintage. If 1950s, not sure would be a great resale item as lamps are somewhat of a hard sell with shipping, etc. However if antique for sure, it's pretty intriguing, and or if you just like it decoratively for your own use.

 

I'm going with what lucille b said. The faces dont look right at all and once I saw it looked too 1960s 70s to me. Just my opinion though.

 

Not really what I was hoping for but got more photos from seller. He thinks it’s a converted vase. Photos show crazing and it appears hand painted.

 

thanks for the advice and link! I agree on the vintage resale part for sure. While I’ve made money on lamps it seems to take forever. They are large and annoying to store let alone ship. I just sell them locally. Were one valuable enough I might list nationally with shipping though. I have a Fredrick Cooper blue and white ginger jar lamp right now listed locally. It has damage but still presents perfectly against a wall. Not one nibble yet. Not even a lowball.

 

I found more Samuri vases using Kutani instead of Kinkozan.

But most importantly I found this. I would say the cord is 1970s.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/11-8-Antiq...i-Warriors-Made-into-a-Lamp-19-5/331247428527

 

That's the closest so far! Faces are VERY similar. Well found, Cluttered.

So if seller is correct, an older vase made into a lamp-- suppose the transformation could have taken place in the 1970s, come to think of it maybe the style of plug isn't so important, it only shows when the vase was changed into a lamp.

Would be great to see what one of these actually sells for when thinking about making a profit. If buying it for your own use, that is different. But for resale, hard to say. It's a hassle to store/ship and a significant investment. One thing also, I think a lot of in-person sales are down and who knows when that will recover.

 

@J Dagger

Sounds like you have a lamp thing, as do I

Nice lamp, @clutteredcloset49!

 

I'm thinking these were not rewired.
I think these were made to be lamps. They are both sitting on the same wood stand, the blue one is then on top of a second stand.


My opinion is that the colors are wrong for early vases.

 

I also do not think the top was broken off.
The tops on both pieces appear the same. Same ridge, similar decor right on the ridge.

 

Ooh great find! That’s pretty dang close in many ways!! I like the samurais a lot more on the one I found but form and style wise it’s a great match. I wonder if it could be the same factory and different artist? Thanks!!!

oh and great comparison posts

 

Even if the price in the ebay listing was realistic selling locally I think I would have an impossible time getting it. I mean this one is for sale for $100 and it’s still available so that should say it all. Side note and not to be contradictory but I’ve still been doing a normal amount of in person sales in last couple weeks. I’ve also been doing a little buying in person. Being more careful for sure but still happening. Had posted an Imari dish on here a long time ago. Finally sold it to a Japanese man the other day. Said it reminded him of a dish his mother owned while she was still with us and that he wanted to be able to look at it and think of her. Very sweet! I think I’ve had three other pickups lately and one scheduled tomorrow. I’ve done two of three buying trips as well. I’m wearing gloves mostly, keeping distance as much as possible, and sanitizing immediately afterwards.

Ooh great find! That’s pretty dang close in many ways!! I like the samurais a lot more on the one I found but form and style wise it’s a great match.

 

Ha, I try not to but there’s a couple on hand at the moment I don’t need. Another Fredrick Cooper, this one with brass dolphin base. Then a modern fancy one with figural rams. Don’t know much about them but when you find a decent one at a good price it’s hard not to take em home.