The Inoue Company
(c.1870-Late Meiji)
The Inoue Company of Kyoto was an esteemed metalworking workshop active from around 1870 during the late Meiji period (1868–1912). Based in Kyoto, the firm became renowned for its exceptional bronze and mixed-metal works, which were highly sought after both in Japan and abroad.
Close up of a bronze and mixed metals box by the Inoue Company of kyoto
available in our Japanese collection at jacksons antique
The company specialised in creating vases, dishes, boxes, and okimono, often decorated with elaborate designs of birds, flowers, dragons, figures and waves. These motifs were executed using fine inlays of gold, silver, copper, and shakudō (a rich black alloy of copper and gold), demonstrating technical mastery and cultural connotations. Many of these works were produced for export, reflecting the international demand for Japanese art during the height of Japonisme in Europe and America.
example of an Inoue signature reading Saikyo Inoue zo (made by Inoue of West Kyoto)
Inoue’s pieces are distinguished by their workshop signatures, most commonly inscribed with the marks such as Kyōto Inoue sei (京都井上製) and Inoue zo (井上造), which translate to “Manufactured by Inoue of Kyoto” or “Made by Inoue of Kyoto.” These marks are today recognised indicators of authenticity and quality, making the company’s works highly prized among collectors of Meiji period art.
The Inoue Company of Kyoto stands as an important example of the era’s flourishing decorative arts industry, producing works that embody both Japan’s traditional metalworking heritage and its adaptation to international markets.