Page 131 - 2017 Sept 13 Ackerman Collection Japanese Art NYC Bonhams

1312 W
A MASSIVE BRONZE INCENSE BURNER
Meiji era (1868-1912), circa 1893
Cast in sections and finished in a dark
brown patina, the overall surface decorated
in archaistic keyfrets in low relief with
stylized beast motifs, the lobed ash basin
decorated with two dragons, a phoenix, two
kirin and a minogame, each separated by
zoomorphic columns, the basin applied with
elaborate phoenix handles, each holding a
free-moving leafy branch in its beak, the tail
feathers wrapping around the neck below
baku masks, and supported by three legs
emanating from beast masks and ending
in shishi, the space between the legs with
stylized phoenix-in-cloud flourishes with free-
moving pierced brocade balls, the four-tiered
base cast with beast masks below keyfrets,
lotus petals, and a final register of pierce-
carved plovers in waves, the top surface of
the base surmounted with a sacred jewel
supported by a geyser of water, the cover
with a continuation of the design and a
reticulated band of shishi in peony branches,
highlighted in gilt, all surmounted with a large
finial formed as a seated kirin with raised
paw, looking back over its shoulder and
holding a tasseled brocade ball in its jaws,
illegibly signed Kyoku in seal form on the
underside of the ash basin
51 3/8in (130.5cm) high
US$8,000 - 12,000
For a similar but still larger example of this
type of outsize incense burner, evidently
made around the time of the World’s
Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in
1893, see Joe Earle, Splendors of Imperial
Japan: Arts of the Meiji Period from the Khalili
Collection, London, The Khalili Family Trust,
2002, cat. no. 187.

1313
No lot

FINE JAPANESE ART | 129