Vintage vase "Irises" by Kutani, Japan. Porcelain, polychrome painting on a gold background with cobalt, white, gold, and brown paints. Japan, the twentieth century. Iris, along with sakura, is one of the favorite depicted flowers in Japanese art. Traditionally, it is associated with the image of samurai, its petals are an allegory of the samurai katana. Iris stands for success, courage, depth of emotions and feelings, and their constancy.