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Dragonware and Moriage Pottery

During the late 19th century, techniques used by the makers and styles of oriental pottery such as Satsuma and Dragonware began to evolve and progress as the potters became more skilled and had access to better and more advanced machinery and kilns.

The use of Moriage is widespread throughout the range of Japanese and Chinese pottery that has been available over the last 200 years. Moriage is the term used to describe the layering of small beads or lines of slip clay onto the surface of the pottery, vase or bowl which is then glazed over to leave a relief that can be felt and seen. The Moriage beads were often painted gold after the glaze had been applied, giving the pottery item a unique and special finish. The beads were all placed onto the pottery by hand before it was fired in the kiln. Later, when the mass production of such items was started, the addition of the slip clay beads was replaced by adding small dots of enamel which speeded up the production time of each of the items.

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BEAUTIFUL ANTIQUE NIPPON RAISED MORIAGE ENAMEL PORCELAIN FOOTED FERN POT VASE
BEAUTIFUL ANTIQUE NIPPON RAISED MORIAGE ENAMEL PORCELAIN FOOTED FERN POT VASE
$9.50
GORGEOUS LARGE ART NOUVEAU NIPPON MORIAGE RAISED ENAMEL BUTTERFLIES FLOWERS VASE
GORGEOUS LARGE ART NOUVEAU NIPPON MORIAGE RAISED ENAMEL BUTTERFLIES FLOWERS VASE
$8.50
1920 NIPPON TAPESTRY 8x6VASE WISTERIA  GOLD MORIAGE BLUE MAPLE LEAF MARK
1920 NIPPON TAPESTRY 8x6VASE WISTERIA GOLD MORIAGE BLUE MAPLE LEAF MARK
$202.50

Moriage was also taken one step further and was used to create pottery vases and barrels that have heavily stylized relief designs. Pottery such as Dragonware featured this style and method heavily. The term Dragonware is used to describe a pot or vase that has an oriental dragon motif that has been built up using fine layers of slip clay, making a deep relief of the dragon or serpent that curls around the outside of the piece of pottery. Slip clay is a thick liquid clay that is used to make porcelain and pottery. The Dragonware was then painted in bright colors with scenes or images of Japanese or Oriental life, and the dragons were usually left with a minimal or white coloring. Although it began to be made in the late 19th century, Dragonware is still made today and is still very popular, being exported all over the world.

The raised, 3 dimensional parts of the moriage and Dragonware pieces were often added to the pottery using a technique known as slipwork. This involves mixing the clay with water to form a runny substance which is then poured into a shaped mold and allowed to set for a period of time before being added to the pottery just before the firing process.

Some of the Dragonware and beaded moriage pottery may not be marked, painted with or stamped with the mark of the designer or factory where it was made. It was common for pieces of Nippon pottery to have a small paper label applied which may have now been lost or destroyed.

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22 Piece Set Vintage Dragonware Moriage Tea Set Kutani Hand Painted Japan
22 Piece Set Vintage Dragonware Moriage Tea Set Kutani Hand Painted Japan
$279.99
Vintage Moriage Dragonware Tea Set Flaming Dragon RS Made in Japan Hand Painted
Vintage Moriage Dragonware Tea Set Flaming Dragon RS Made in Japan Hand Painted
$45.00
Vintage Moriage Dragonware Lithophane Geisha Girl Cup  Saucer Blue Hand Painted
Vintage Moriage Dragonware Lithophane Geisha Girl Cup Saucer Blue Hand Painted
$24.99

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Dragonware Miniature Teacup  Saucer Moriage Dragon Hand Painted Nippon Japan
Dragonware Miniature Teacup Saucer Moriage Dragon Hand Painted Nippon Japan
$40.00
Vintage Dragonware Moriage Sake Barrel Decanter Set
Vintage Dragonware Moriage Sake Barrel Decanter Set
$65.00
Vintage Moriage Hand Painted Dragonware Tea For 6 Set
Vintage Moriage Hand Painted Dragonware Tea For 6 Set
$30.00

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Dragonware Moriage Tea Set Burnt Orange 6 Demitasse Cups Teapot and Creamer
Dragonware Moriage Tea Set Burnt Orange 6 Demitasse Cups Teapot and Creamer
$49.95
Chinese Dragonware Moriage demitasse Dragon Sugar Bowl
Chinese Dragonware Moriage demitasse Dragon Sugar Bowl
$15.00
Chinese DRAGONWARE Moriage DEMITASSE TEA CUP SAUCER SET 10 PIECE
Chinese DRAGONWARE Moriage DEMITASSE TEA CUP SAUCER SET 10 PIECE
$12.00

8 replies on “Dragonware and Moriage Pottery”

I have the peach lustre moriage dragonware and on the bottom of the pieces it is stamped Nikoniko china occupied china. In the middle of all that is a circle with E-W what does that mean?

Hi Do you know the difference between pieces marked Japan and those stamped foreign. I have no interest in value as I am trying to rebuild a green tea set of dragon ware that my Dad bought his mum whilst stationed in Malaya in the early 1950s. Sadly I have never seen any in the right shade.

Not always, but in general the good items were marked with the makers name, location or company.

I have a very old set of Dragonware that I cannot find anywhere on the internet.
Pink Raised dragon Blue eyes, and iridescent cup interior.
Can send pictures for identification.

My question is: What is authentic, antique Dragonware worthZ? My uncle left me a lot of antiques. Something I don’t know much about. I am currently going through it to catalog and price it. Some things I will keep, but most I will sell, due to the lack of space in my home. Much of it is Oriental.
I have a teacup and saucer, a vase, and salt and pepper shakers that have a matching dragonware pattern. These pieces have the tags still on them from when he purchased them. However, the prices I have come across are nowhere near the prices that he paid. Yet, they look nearly identical.
Is there a possibility that he had something older or did he get swindled?

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