Description
A Vase That Invites Abundance Home
Some symbols whisper. This one celebrates.
This Chinese lacquerware vase features one of the most joyful motifs in traditional Chinese art: a squirrel leaping through grapevines heavy with fruit. It is an image of plenty — wealth flowing in, family flourishing, good fortune multiplying. Place it in your space, and the message is clear: This home welcomes abundance.
The form is tall and graceful, 12.6 inches high with a 7.1-inch diameter. The silhouette rises from a stable base to a gently tapered neck — a classic shape refined over centuries. Available in black lacquer or red lacquer, each finish built up through dozens of hand-applied coats, polished to a depth that glows like jade.
Against this rich surface, mother of pearl brings the scene to life. Shells cut into leaves, tendrils, grapes, and the quick curve of a squirrel catching light as it moves. This is lacquerware inlaid with mother of pearl — art you can feel with your eyes.
The Design: Squirrel & Grape
In Chinese tradition, this pairing is a prosperity powerhouse.
The squirrel — sometimes called the "wealth-bringing weasel" or 财神鼬 — is a creature associated with gathering and storing. It collects, it saves, it multiplies what it finds. In folk belief, it brings wealth into the home and keeps it there.
The grapevine bears fruit in clusters, dozens of grapes on a single branch. It represents abundance that multiplies: children, descendants, opportunities, blessings. The vine itself twists and climbs, symbolizing a family line that grows and extends through generations.
Together on this decorative lacquer vase, squirrel and grape speak a layered wish: May wealth accumulate. May family flourish. May every good thing multiply.
The Craft: Yangzhou Lacquerware Tradition
This handmade lacquer vase is crafted in Yangzhou using techniques passed down for generations.
Lacquer application: Natural lacquer is applied in dozens of thin layers. Each coat cures slowly before the next is added. The result is a surface with depth — color that seems to come from within rather than sit on top.
Color options:
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Black lacquerware vase: Deep, steady, grounded. Symbolizes wealth protected and fortune held secure.
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Red lacquerware vase: Vibrant, auspicious, celebratory. Symbolizes prosperity activated and joy in motion.
Mother of pearl inlay: Natural shells are hand-cut into each element — grape, leaf, tendril, squirrel. The iridescence shifts with the light, giving the scene movement and life.
Timeline: Weeks of layered work. This lacquerware art cannot be rushed.
How to Use It
As a statement piece: Display this lacquerware vase empty. The form is sculptural, the surface is art. It stands complete on its own.
As a functional vase: Add dried branches, preserved florals, or tall stems. The lacquer ground — black or red — anchors any arrangement with richness and warmth.
In your space: Living room console. Entryway table. Study shelf. Dining room sideboard. This Chinese lacquerware vase fits both Eastern and Western interiors — anywhere that welcomes beauty with meaning.
When to Give It
A decorative lacquer vase of this caliber carries intention.
Housewarming: May your new home overflow with abundance.
Wedding: May your family grow and prosper.
Business milestone: May success multiply.
Lunar New Year: May the coming year bring wealth and joy.
Choose black for someone who values quiet strength. Choose red for someone stepping into a season of celebration. Either way, you give lacquerware inlaid with mother of pearl — a gift that wishes big and means it.
Product Details
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Origin: Yangzhou, China
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Craft: Traditional handmade lacquer vase
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Finish: Black lacquer or red lacquer, hand-applied in multiple coats
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Inlay: Mother of pearl — squirrel and grape motif
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Height: 12.6 in (approx. 32 cm)
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Diameter: 7.1 in (approx. 18 cm)
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Use: Display or floral arrangement
