Pair of Japanese Meiji period Arita sometsuke porcelain flower vases (hana-ike) with constricted necks and wide mouths, each decorated in underglaze blue on a white ground with a pair of long-tailed birds perched on rockery beneath flowering leafy trees. Butterflies are in flight on the back of the continuous landscape scene. The interior of the cupped mouth holds three sprays of three flowers each and the exterior is bordered with a ruyi head band. The glazed base bears a six character mark reading "Made by Fukagawa of Nichi Hizen." Circa 1875. 10 5/8" high. Very good overall condition. There are two small original firing cracks in the foot of one vase and one original firing crack in the foot of the other.