Page 16 - Bonhams September 12 2018 New York Japanese Works of Art

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ARTIST UNKNOWN 作者不詳 In Edo-period and Meiji-era Japan, the traditional Chinese image of
A Pair of Bronze Vases Decorated with Carp and Waterfall a carp or other large fish ascending a waterfall in the upper reaches
登竜門花鳥図彫金ブロンズ花瓶一対 of the Yellow River was an emblem of success especially associated
Meiji era (1868–1912), late 19th century with the Tango no sekku or Boys’ Day Festival. The dramatic,
Each of baluster form with wide mouth and flat rim, fitted with mysteriously static treatment of the subject on these vases, owing
demon-mask handles on either side of the shoulder, each holding in its origins to the great eighteenth-century Kyoto painter Maruyama
its mouth a gilt-metal ring, and with an integral base with five bracket Ōkyo (1733–1795), is also seen in a metal version on a sword guard
feet, the bronze body cast and chiseled in high relief with details in by Ōkawa Teikan (see lot 12) dating from 1867 (Museum of Fine Arts,
gold, silver, shakudō, and shibuichi, depicting on one side a carp Boston, inv. no. 11.11943)
ascending a waterfall with a rocky crag to the left and on the other
side birds and plants, the bracket feet inlaid in silver and copper with Reference
lappet motifs, a band above the foot inlaid in gold and silver with Ōsaka Shiritsu Bijutsukan 大阪市立美術館 (Osaka Municipal Museum
archaistic dragons and pearls, unsigned of Art) 2004, cat. no. 27
Height 13 in. (33 cm)
$12,000 - 15,000

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