Page 57 - 2021 March 16th Japanese and Korean Art, Christie's New York City

36 A PAIR OF SILVER PRESENTATION VASES

MEIJI PERIOD (LATE 19TH CENTURY), ATTRIBUTED TO KANO NATSUO (1828-1898)
Each vase of tapering ovoid form with high chamfered shoulder and flared
neck, finely carved and inlaid in gold and silver with a heron in a lotus pond,
applied with gold sixteen-petal chrysanthemum crest of the Imperial
Household on the neck
13æ in. (34.9 cm.) high each approx.
With a wood box authenticated and signed by Ito Masami. (2)

$40,000-60,000

The premier metalworker of his day, Natsuo was also
a painter and calligrapher and a student of classical
poetry. He began as an adopted apprentice to the
swordsmith Kano Chisuke, eventually setting up his own
premises in Kyoto in 1846. He moved his business to
Tokyo in 1854, where he enjoyed increasing success and
acclaim, winning the top prizes for metalwork in National
Industrial Expositions. Joining the Tokyo School of Art
in 1889 as the first professor of metalwork, Natsuo
and his many students were proponents of sculptural
metalwork, the wearing of swords having been revoked
in 1876. Natsuo was appointed Artist to the Imperial
Household (Teishitsu gigeiin) in 1890.

Inscription by Ito Masami on the lid