A Hirado porcelain vessel and with cover

Description:

Japan, Meiji period
D. 22 cm
Bulbous, almost globular body of white porcelain decorated with stylised clouds in underglaze cobalt blue. The shoulder applied with a finely modelled, coiling dragon with intricately rendered scales, claws and raised head. The flat cover surmounted by a fully modelled shishi lion finial.
From an old European private collection - Shishi-shaped handle re-stuck, partially slightly chipped