Page 253 - Fine Japanese Art Bonhams London May 2018

488 *
AN INLAID BRONZE CIRCULAR DISH
By Suzuki Katsuhiro I (1827-1886) or II (1854-1901),
Meiji era (1868-1912)
Raised on three short bracket feet, decorated in
predominately high and low relief of gold with Raijin the
Thunder God emerging from swirling clouds with a ring
of drums encircling behind and clutching in each hand
a drumstick producing a storm; signed on the lower left
Katsuhiro koku with a gold seal. 25.2cm (9 7/8in) diam.

£4,000 - 5,000
JPY600,000 - 760,000
US$5,700 - 7,100

The signature Katsuhiro most probably refers to the
metalworker Suzuki Katsuhiro I or II who worked in Tokyo
in the Meiji era (1868-1912), see Wakayama Takeshi,
Kinko Jiten (A Dictionary of Metalworkers), Tokyo,
Token Shunju Shinbunsha, 1999, pp.677-8.

489
TWO INLAID BRONZE RECTANGULAR PLAQUES
Meiji era (1868-1912), late 19th/early 20th century
Each decorated in silver, gilt and shakudo high relief, the
vertical panel with a crane standing on a wave-lashed
rock, signed with two seals: top Hoshu sei, bottom:
Shomin no in, 23cm x 15.8cm (9in x 6¼in); the horizontal
panel with a pair of buncho (Java sparrows) perched on a
bamboo branch, signed with a seal Hoshu sei beneath the
chiselled characters Shomin, 15.8cm x 20cm
(6¼in x 7 7/8in). (2).

£1,000 - 1,500 490
JPY150,000 - 230,000
US$1,400 - 2,100
490
A FINE AND UNUSUAL SMALL PAIR
OF INLAID FOUR-SIDED WOOD VASES
Attributed to Tsukahara Katao, Meiji era (1868-1912),
late 19th/early 20th century
Each vase supported on four scrolled bracket feet and
lavishly decorated in high-relief inlay of silver, shibuichi,
gold and shakudo with four complementary scenes (two
on each vase) within a sunken panel on the front and
reverse, one vase depicting (1) The poetess Ono no
Komachi washing a book with water to prove that verses
have been fraudulently added to the text (2) A solitary
butterfly hovering over a stalk of peony on the reverse, the
second vase showing (3) Otomo no Kuronushi, a high-
ranking courtier and poet, seated and falsely accusing
Ono no Komachi of plagiarism (4) Chrysanthemums
growing from behind a rock on the reverse, one side of
each vase inset with two smaller differently shaped panels
enclosing clouds and wild chrysanthemums on one vase
and clouds and susuki (pampas grass) and ominaeshi
(valerian) on the other; each vase signed on the opposite
side with carved signature Katao above a square gold seal
Katao. Each vase 14.5cm (5¾in) high. (2).

£6,000 - 8,000
JPY910,000 - 1,200,000
US$8,500 - 11,000
The signature and overall quality of this work are
consistent with that of Tsukahara Katao who is recorded
as a Shoami-school artist living in Tokyo and working
in the late 19th century, see Wakayama Takeshi, Kinko
Jiten (A Dictionary of Metalworkers), Tokyo, Token Shunju
Shinbunsha, 1999, p.309. (another side)

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue. FINE JAPANESE ART | 251