Yoshiaki

Meiji period, 19/20th century

1868-1912

Vase

A very fine silver and enamel vase in the shibayama style on ivory panel centrepieces, phoenix ho-o bird handles, and onaga asure-winged magpie finial. Beautifully enamelled flower designs over the body and footed base. On one side a kawasemi “kingfisher” sits on a wooden stump over water surrounded by hydrangeas and blossom trees, on the reverse are two ducks and songbirds surrounded by wisteria and peonies.

Signed Yoshiaki

185mm x 125mm

Anonymous

Meiji/ Taisho period, 19/20th century

1890-1926

Bonbonniere

This small but beautifully crafted silver bonbonniere would have been given as a gift from the emperor to his guests at certain events. There are many variations of the bonbonnieres given over the years starting with the first given in 1889. They were often made by the emperor’s master craftsmen mostly in silver but also cloisonné and lacquer.

It is not known when the emperor first began giving bonbonnieres as gifts. Often when receiving guests for coffee or tea he would give bonbonnieres as gifts in person. Only three major events in the Meiji period were held until 1891 when it was decided to stress the dignity of the imperial household to the world with more regular ceremonies. They were the Meiji accession to the throne in 1868, the birth of the Crown Prince in 1879, and the ceremony of instituting the Crown Prince in 1889. It seems different bonbonnieres were given at these events though it is difficult to know which exact ones were given.

Unsigned

54mm x 43mm x 22mm

Harunaga

Edo period mid-19th century

1615-1868

Kiseru Pipe

A beautifully intricate Kiseru (tobacco pipe) working in gold, silver and copper on a Shakudo body in the iroe takazogan technique. A small plum blossom tree growing from the earth in bloom with buds ready to flower. On the grown lay leaves and spent blossom.

This pipe was made by Harunaga who was part of the Tanaka school. The Tanaka school was founded by Tanaka Tōriūsai Kiyotoshi during the mid-Edo period. Heavily influenced by Ishiguro, he is credited with introducing the Y-shape punch to roughen the ground for gold nunome overlay.

Signed Harunaga

Size 138mm x 12mm

Anonymous

Meiji/ Taisho period 19/20th century

1868-1926

Okimono

A bronze sculpture of a seated cow in a rich dark patina. The cow is seated in a rested position with his tail wrapped around his side with his head slightly lifted.

This figure seems to be based on the many bronze cows found in the region of Aizu in Fukushima province. The Temple of Enzoji has many statues of Akabeko a famous and legendary cow, it is said Akabeko helped carry heavy stones up the hills to build the temple in the ninth century.

Unsigned

Size 310mm x 145mm

Anonymous

Edo 18th 19th century

1615-1868

Ojime

A large group of ojime beads of varying sizes and designs. Ojime beads are used for tightening Japanese sagemono cords, the bead is threaded on to silk cord that would be attached to the sagmono (hanging container) and pulled down to hold the sagemono closed. When pulled up the cord it would slacken the cords allowing the sagemono to be opened. Many different designs would be imagined to match the sagemono or just creative ideas the artist might have.  

 
 

Nagowa

Meiji period, 19th century

1868-1912

Vases

A pair of beautifully worked bronze vases in gold, silver and Shakudo depicting Manchurian cranes wading in a lake.  All metalwork has been done in the Hirazogan technique. A metalsmith would chisel out the design on the body of the vase whereupon inlaying the different metals on the surface. Once this had been achieved the whole vase would be polished until completely flush leaving a smooth perfect surface.

Nogawa company workshop kyoto 1885.

You can see a very similar vase pair waiting to be worked on the shelves in this photo of the Nogawa company workshop in Kyoto 1885.

This kind of work was extremely laborious and mainly found on earlier Meiji period pieces. Due to the time-consuming work, the quality was massively reduced by 1910 to increase supply but in doing so flooded the market with inferior products leading to the collapsing of the market.  

Nagowa

290mm x 110mm

Suiho

Late Meiji/Taisho period, 20th century

1900-1926

Okimono

A cast bronze okimono of Jurojin one of the seven lucky gods. The seven lucky gods have only been depicted together from the Edo period onwards, Jurojin the patron of learning, who has his origins in the Chinese deity shou Lao and dates back to the Han Dynasty. The Japanese depiction of Jurojin generally has him in a cloth cap holding a staff or scroll with a long beard and often with an animal messenger such as the deer, crane, or tortoise.

Signed Suiho with kao.

300mm x 280mm

Ikko

Taisho period 20th century

1912-1926

Box

A basketweave and lacquer box with a silver lid. Intricate wood weaving covers a wooden box with roiro lacquer interior. A solid silver and shakudo panel adorn the lid of the box worked in hira-zogan inlaid Japanese maple leaves and birds. A tree trunk has been hand carved into the surface as if painted the finish is so delicate and soft. The birds are worked in shibuichi on the body, shukudo for the tips of the wings and head with silver inlaid eyes.

Signed Ikko

147mm x 67mm

Genryusai Seiya

Meiji period, 19/20th century

1868-1912

Jardinière

A heavy round bronze cast jardinière with Japanese lobsters in high relief standing on a three-footed bowl form. The Japanese clawless lobster is loved by the Japanese and is found all over Japanese art often on prints, lacquer, and metalware.

Signed in square seal Genryusai Seiya

294mm x 210mm