Object Description
A gold shakudo Meiji period bronze vase of carp in wisteria
Japanese, Late 19th Century
Height 31cm, diameter 19cm
Made in Meiji era Japan, this charming bronze vase, depicting a carp swimming amidst wisteria, features delicate but beautiful embellishments in the form of gold-shakudo inlay to the eyes.
The Meiji period was one of prolific artistic production, however the use of this fine technique, and the signature for a maker in Japanese, marks it out as a piece of a higher calibre than most. It is highly ornate, with the foliage and fish sculptured beautifully in high relief, with the subtle use of gilding giving it a lively energy and quality, making it a particularly pleasing interior addition.