Help us Identify moms "Ugly Bunny Vase"

Okay. So my mom has this vase. She got it from her first husband's mom. Who's name was bunny, so my mom always called it the ugly bunny vase. Lol. And my mom hated this vase, so she hid it in a broom closet. But kept it because Bunny was a dear woman, and my mom always said "it's old." The story goes, Bunny lived in Japan in 1940 and visited an antique shop and purchased this vase. We don't know anything else about this thing, but over the years all of us have made jokes about it and it's become something of a loved and treasures inside joke. All of us kids love how much our mom hates the thing lol. So I was just curious if anyone can tell us anything about it. How old is it really? Is it Japanese or Chinese? Are these things dragons or demons? Because this is a hotly debated topic. Basically any light that could be shed on this vase would be appreciated.

 

I can't tell you anything about it, but I absolutely adore your "Ugly Bunny Vase" story.

 

Welcome Saheeta.

Dragons.
I think we had something like this before, can't remember who-what-where, though. Japan would certainly be a contender.

 

Aha! See I think it's dragons too(so does mom). My brother thinks it's demons. I shall enjoy telling him I got a vote for team dragon.

 

Ah, your brother is seeing demons. Verrry worrying.

 

not traditional japanese / chinese shape. body to shoulder ratio is incorrect. foot rim seems thinner at the back than the front.

 

Japanese, Kenzan style and palette.

Sig upside down too

 

Oh sorry. I can't tell right side up from upside down.

 

So... Does that mean you can read the signature? If we had an artist or factory stamp we could research, it could help us narrow down the vase's origins/age. We know it's at least as old as 1940, as Bunny would have no reason to lie about where she bought it. Although we have some doubt that it really was an antique when Bunny purchased it from this shop. But my mother says she loved antiques and had a good eye, so maybe it is legit. That's kind of what we are trying to figure out.

 

Yes it's from the 30's-40's or thereabouts, pretty typical of the ware although usually seen as bowls or teapots.

 

I think this is Japanese because of the three toes.

 

Was it painted over? The crackles dont show on the reds and yellow.

 

This is exactly as we got it. My mom said it was gifted to her when she was 23, and she is now 61. So if it was painted over it was before us. Bunny was not very craft inclined, and seeing as she believed it was an antique I can't imagine she would have done this. That doesn't mean someone didn't paint these dragons on top of an older vase back in 1940. But there is a uniform sheen to it so if they did it must have been reglazed or something.