The vase measures 7 ¼” high by 3 3/8” diameter in the main body. We date it to the early Meiji period, circa 1880-1890s. It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks or restorations. It is one of the finest examples of Hirado in our collection.

The Pomegranate (zakuro in Japanese) has special cultural significance, especially in connection with KISHIBOJIN (sometimes called Kishimojin or kariteimo), a popular Goddess of childbirth and motherhood who can usually be seen holding a pomegranate in her right hand. The reason for this is quite simple — zakuro are bursting with an abundance of juicy seeds — making it a perfect symbol of fertility. It represents the wish for numerous children and the attainment of sexual maturity by a woman.

Louis Lawrence, in his book "Hirado, Prince of Porcelain", accurately summed up why this Japanese porcelain is widely regarded as the finest to ever come out of Japan - it is a true world-class ceramic made of the finest clay from Amakusa Island. Hirado is characterized by the extreme smoothness of the clay and its ability to adapt to very unusual shapes because of its malleability and resistance to running in the firing process.