Description
Meiji Period (1868-1912)Â
From our Japanese collection, we are delighted to introduce this Japanese Bronze Shakudo Crane Vase. The Japanese Vase of bottle shape with bulbous body and waisted neck beautiful formed in painted bronze with zogan inlaid silver crane birds amongst foliage and cherry blossom. The vase is finished with a slightly raised circular foot rim and beautiful patination work to each element. The Japanese Bronze Crane Vase dates to the Meiji Period (1868-1912).
Zogan (象嵌)
Zo 象 (symbolising) and Gan 嵌 (inlaying) is a traditional Japanese art of inlaying, where small pieces of metal are set into a base to create detailed patterns. The base is often a thin metal plate, and pieces of various colors are used to add depth and texture. This craft can also be done with materials like wood or ceramic.
Shakudo 赤銅
is a billion of gold and copper which can be patinated or left in its original state which resembles bronze.
Bronze
is an alloy consisting primarily of copper with approximately 12–12.5% tin and often with the addition of other metals (including aluminium, manganese, nickel, or zinc) and sometimes non-metals, such as phosphorus, or metalloids such as arsenic or silicon depending on the age of the bronze and its origin. The additions of other metals produce a range of alloys that are usually harder than copper alone and carry useful properties such as strength. The earliest known use of bronze dates to the 5th millennium BCE from Iranian plateau, the bronze mix consists of arsenical copper and copper-arsenide. The earliest tin-copper-alloy recovered is dated to circa 4650 BCE and was found in Plocnik, Serbia. It is believed to have been smelted from a natural tin-copper ore.
MEIJI PERIOD
was an era of Japanese history that spanned from 1868 to 1912. It was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people began to build a paradigm of a modern, industrialised nation state and emergent great power, influenced by Western countries and aesthetics. As a result of radically different ideas, the changes to Japan were profound and it affected the social structure, politics, economy, military, and foreign relations across the board. The period corresponded to the reign of Emperor Meiji and was preceded by the Keio era and was succeeded by the Taisho era.
Cultural Art during the Meiji Period was of particular interest to the government and they overhauled the art export market which in turn promoted Japanese arts via various world’s fairs, beginning in Vienna at the world fair in 1873. The government heavily funded the fairs and took an active role organising how Japan’s culture was presented to the world including creating a semi-public company named Kiritsu Kosho Kaisha (First Industrial Manufacturing Company). The Kiritsu Kosho Kaisha was used to promote and commercialise exports of Japanese art and established the Hakurankai Jimukyoku (Exhibition Bureau) to maintain quality standards. For the 1876 Centennial International Exhibition in Philadelphia, the Japanese government created a Centennial Office and sent a special envoy to secure space for the 30,000 items that would be displayed. The Imperial Household also took an active interest in arts and crafts, commissioning works by select artists to be given as gifts for foreign dignitaries further emphasising the high quality and importance of Japanese art. Just before the end of the 19th century in 1890, the Teishitsu Gigeiin (Artist to the Imperial Household) system was created to recognise distinguished artists. These artists were selected for their exceptionally high quality wares and talent in their own industry. Over a period of 54 years Seventy artists were appointed, amongst these were ceramicist Makuzu Kozan and cloisonné enamel artist Namikawa Yasuyuki.
Measurements
21.5cm High x 10.5cm Diameter (8.46 x 4.13 Inches)Â
Condition
Very Good, light wear in some areas from polishing
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