Pair of Yixing lamp-mounted vases, Late 19th century, red-baked clay, China

This pair of lamp-mounted vases was made in China in the late 19th century from Yixing clay, a type of stoneware clay produced in the Yixing region of Jiangsu province. This material is generally used for small red or brown objects, which are not glazed to preserve the raw beauty of the material. Three-clawed dragons in a cloud of smoke are embossed on the sides of the vases, a motif typical of this type of production.