Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Metalwork (27)

Pair of stamped brass stirrups decorated with Hashizuka, Ito and Manabe Mon.

Japan - Edo (1615-1868), 18th century.
Height 10.24in - 26 cm
Length 12.6in - 32 cm
Width 4.72in - 12 cm

As in Western culture, the culture Japanese stirrups were part of traditional accessories used only by the nobility and the people belonging to the upper class...

A bronze okimono of an owl, constructed in two sections, the short-eared owl (detachable) perched on a tree branch with its head cocked quizzically to the right and its wings folded at its sides; signed on one side of the branch Seimin chu within a rectangular reserve, by Murata Seimin (村田製眠, 1761-1837)

Japan - Edo period (1603-1868)
Height : 10¼ in - length : 10¼ (26 cm x26 cm)

Three turtles bronze incense burner.

In Japan, the turtle (kame) is considered a symbol of wisdom, stability and luck. Tradition has it that it brings protection and 10,000 years of happiness because of its longevity and the slowness of its movements. In the Taoist belief, the turtle symbolizes the world: its shell represents the sky, while its body represents the earth.
The use of incense was introduced in Japan at the same time as Buddhism...

Patinated bronze vase decorated with a flying phœnix and paulownia leaves. It comes with its tomobako marked with the date Shôwa 5 (1930).

Japan, Shôwa period (1926-1989), 1930

Height : 8,27” (21 cm) -Width : 9,05” (23 cm) - Diameter of the neck : 4,5” (11,5 cm)

Pair of stamped brass stirrups decorated with Hashizuka, Ito and Manabe Mons.
Japan - Edo (1615-1868), 18th century.
Measures: Height 10.24in , length 12.6in, width 4.72in
As in Western culture, the culture Japanese stirrups were part of traditional accessories used only by the nobility and the people belonging to the upper class. The stirrups were made in the most precious metal, they were intended to indicate the social status of the owner...

Bronze vase with a dark brown patina in the shape of a trunk.
It bears a three characters signature underneath : 京翁斎 « made by an old man in Kyôto”.

Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)
Height : 22 cm-Diameter : 14 cm

Japanese bronze brown patinated representing a hare laying on a crescent moon.

Japan – Showa (1912-1926)
Height: 11 cm – 4,3 inches

The Hare is a very beloved animal in Japan. Each year, on the 15th day of the 8th month of the moon calendar, Japanese are celebrating “Tskukumi”, a party paying tribute to the hare of a tale.
A God decided to get down on earth as a starved man...

Incense burner in chiseled bronze with brown patina in the shape of a rounded gourd, decorated with long branched stems fitted with carved branch tendrils, gourd leaves, flowers and shoots.
The calabash is a plant native to the tropical regions of Africa and Asia...

Okimono sculpture in bronze of a crow perched on a tree stump in varnished wood. Its eyes are in shakudo.
In Japan, the crow (karasu) is a symbol of gratitude and family love. It is also considered as the divine messenger of good omen. The Kojiki (713) relates that the crow Yatagarasu guided the mythical founder of Japan, Emperor Jinmu (660-585 BC), on a military campaign to Yamato.

Signed under the crow within an oval cartouche 義光, Yoshimitsu...

Bronze sculpture of a giraffe beetle (Prosopocoilus girafa). The top of the abdomen is raised, revealing a perfume burner. The lucanus, in Japanese kuwagata mushi, is highly valued for its playfulness and aesthetic value.
Insects (mushi) have a very important place in Japanese culture. Insect hunting is a popular pastime, especially among children. Using nets and cages, they catch cicadas, beetles and other insects to observe them...

Hitotsusage tabacco pouch with a netsuke. Unlike the tabako-ire, there is no kiseru case.

Netsuke of kagamibuta type, made of two parts: a silver plate with peonies decoration and an ivory bowl.
Leather snuffbox (pouch) with menuki (metallic decoration) of a silver dragon. On the pouch, painted decoration of a Hôô phoenix surrounded by flowers...

Golden patinated bronze representing a lying crane with its baby bird on its back.

The Japanese crane is also known as tanshozuru (丹頂鶴) which mean “red crowned crane”. It is known to be standing for longevity since the tale told this animal to be 100 years old...

Frog on a water lily and a lotus root at the base. The whole is in bronze with a dark brown patina.

In the Japanese bestiary, the frog has a special place, carrying positive values. Both the frog and the toad, called kaeru, come back every year, no matter how far away they are from the pond where they were born. The word Kaeru is a synonym for "coming home". It is the protective animal for travelers and the symbol of hospitality...

Small bronze sculpture of a seated rhinoceros.

Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)

Height : 4.3 in (11 cm) - Width : 2.7 in (7 cm)

Funny brown-patinated bronze featuring a mouse standing on its hind legs on a squash.

Japan – Meiji (1868-1912)

Height : 14 cm (5.51 in) - Length : 24 cm (9.45 in) – Width : 8 cm (3.15 in)

Tall dark bronze vase decorated with a bas-relief depicting irises (hanashobu) ; the rim with an openwork border with maji-motive.

Bottom marks : Kakuha-Sei, the mark of Sano Takachika, Kakuha Kanzaemon IX (角羽勘左衛門 - active early Meiji period). In 1869 he started a bronze-ware business in Yokohama.

Japan – Meiji (1868-1912)

Height: 15.7 in. (40 cm) – Diameter: 7.9 in. (20 cm)
Netherlands Private Collection

Hanging bronze (銅掛斜生, dô kakenanaike) depicting a hawk, placed on a branch...