Maker: This lovely finely painted porcelain vase is by the renowned Japanese maker Morimura Nippon, precursor to the equally renowned Noritake.

Design: Morimura Nippon is justifiably famous for its high quality and this vase is no exception: it is classically designed, rich in detail and superbly crafted. A placid waterside scene and leaves outlined in gold appear against a brown background. The vase is trimmed in gold moriage, or raised beading.

Age: The green wreath mark with M (for the Morimura brothers, who founded the company around 1876) on the base dates its production to between 1911 and 1921.

Size and weight: The vase is 5 inches tall and 3 3/4 inches wide between the far ends of the handles. It weighs 12.9 ounces.

Condition: It has no nicks, chips, cracks, repairs, crazing or discoloration. There is wear throughout, including the handles and the gold inner edge of the top - examples are shown in the photos with the penny. There are a number of dark marks that are visible in the photos. The remnants of an old round label are on the side; they would likely come off with a good soaking.

Please check all the photos very carefully - they are an important part of the description.