one of the first pieces made was the aladdin vase, a large vase whose dragon and catfish motifs were inspired by japanese art. the dragon is modeled in low relief crawling around the neck of the vase, with one of its claws hooked into the vase's opening. nichols made the vase in 1882 in response to an earlier piece by her rival mclaughlin, the ali baba vase, which was then the largest underglaze-decorated vase in america. although not as tall as the ali baba vase, the aladdin vase is wider, a technically more difficult feat.