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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 Antique Nippon Royal Moriye Moon Basket Vase Meiji Moriage Vase 9 $68.00 |
 Nippon Moriage Yellow Satin Finish Vase Flowers Double Handle Gold Accent $60.00 |
 Ornate Nippon Japan Porcelain Handled Vase w Thick MORIAGE Flowers Hand Painted $19.99 |
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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 Vintage 11 Pc Mini Porcelain Tea Set Moriage DragonWare Raised Dragon Japan $45.00 |
 Dragonware Mini Teapot with Cup and Saucer Japanese Moriage Green Raised Dragon $25.00 |
 Vintage Dragonware Cream and Sugar Lustre Blue Little Fork Hostess Set Florida $25.00 |
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 Vintage Dragonware Mini Cup and Saucer $9.99 |
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 Vintage Dragonware Moriage SUGAR with LID CREAMER SET marked JAPAN $19.99 |
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 Vintage Dragon Dragonware Tea Cup and Saucer Set Japan Made Hand Painted Blue $30.00 |
 Vintage Raised Dragon Dragonware Moriage Lithophane Tea Cup $20.00 |
 Vintage Japanese Dragonware Moriage hand painted Teapot set 6 chawan cups $60.00 |
8 replies on “Dragonware and Moriage Pottery”
Would you know if it is safe to drink out of dragonware teacups? And eat off the plates? Thank you for your time
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.
If the piece doesn’t have any markings, is it most likely a fake?
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.
Hi Robert.
Unfortunately I can’t give identification or valuations, I am just a collector, not an antiques person.
You can try using the service we recommend – https://www.satsuma-pottery.com/satsuma-pottery-valuation-service or try looking at some of the markings here – http://www.gotheborg.com/marks/20thcenturyjapan.shtml
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?