Rare Signed TH Pre-1975 Vietnamese Enamel Copper Footed Bowl – Crane Art For Sale

Rare and highly collectible pre-1975 South Vietnamese hand-enameled copper bowl, depicting a flowing crane among fruit branches. This is the largest bowl from the pre-1975 Saigon set, and unlike the others, this piece features a desirable footed base, giving it a more elevated form and adding to its stability and aesthetic value.

Most importantly, this bowl is artist-signed “TH,” a documented mark associated with a mid-century Saigon enamel workshop active during the 1960s–early 1970s. Very few signed examples survived the war years, making this an exceptional and historically significant piece.

This is the bowl that identifies the entire three-piece set as authentic South Vietnam studio enamel made before 1975.

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⭐ EXTREMELY RARE PRE-1975 SAIGON ART — FEW SIGNED PIECES SURVIVE

During the Vietnam War, especially between 1968 and 1975, numerous Saigon and Bien Hoa artisan studios were destroyed or permanently closed. Enamel equipment, molds, documentation, and copper inventories were lost or repurposed.

As a result, signed South Vietnamese enamel artworks are scarce, and footed, larger bowls such as this one are even harder to find. This example is a true survivor of a nearly lost art form.

The crane is a culturally significant Vietnamese symbol, representing longevity, purity, and noble spirit — a motif frequently chosen by skilled studio decorators.

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⭐ ARTISTIC FEATURES

• Signed “TH” – mark of a pre-1975 Saigon enamel artist

• Largest bowl in the original set – premium display presence

• Footed base – rarely seen on South Vietnam enamel bowls

• Hand-formed copper body, natural rim variation

• Multi-stage enamel firing with gradients of plum, jade, blue, and copper

• Gold linework for feathers, branches, and signature

• One-of-a-kind artwork, not mass produced

• Strong symbolic crane motif (high collector demand)

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MEASUREMENTS

Approx. 6.5 inches (larger than typical mid-century enamel bowls)

Footed base height: enhanced display elevation

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MATERIAL

Hand-enameled copper

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ORIGIN

Saigon, South Vietnam (before 1975)

Signed pieces from this era are exceptionally rare.

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CONDITION

Very good vintage condition with expected age-appropriate enamel texture. No cracks. No repairs. Light wear consistent with authentic pre-1975 enamelware.

Displays beautifully.

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⭐ WHY THIS PIECE COMMANDS HIGH COLLECTOR VALUE

• Signed by the Saigon studio decorator (TH)

• Largest and only footed bowl in the set

• High-demand crane subject

• Pre-1975 South Vietnam origin (wartime scarcity)

• Studio art quality, not mass-produced enamelware

• Represents a vanished artistic tradition

Collectors of Asian art, mid-century enamel, and pre-1975 Vietnamese cultural artifacts consider signed examples like this museum-worthy survivors.

Ships with exceptional care.

Location: Rack1