A MASSIVE SILVER INLAID BRONZE ‘DRAGON’ USUBATA VASE

拍品描述

A MASSIVE SILVER INLAID BRONZE ‘DRAGON’ USUBATA VASE Japan, late 19th-early 20th century, Meiji period (1868-1912) A massively cast and unusually large bronze usubata vase, rising from a broad, slightly everted circular foot, above which is a waisted, tiered section leading to a cylindrical, rounded body, further rising to a waisted neck and flaring outward to a trumpet-form mouth. The foot is finely decorated with silver wire inlay depicting waves, with bands of scrolls, scrolling vines, and a key-fret pattern. The body is further embellished with silver-wire-inlaid hanabishi patterns and encircled by two separately cast sinuous dragons coiling around it, their scales further inlaid and each grasping a tama in its claws. The neck and mouth are enriched with additional key-fret bands, while the interior is decorated with a finely executed design of a silver dragon amidst swirling clouds. HEIGHT 38.8 cm WEIGHT 11.1 kg Based on Chinese bronze forms but with exaggeratedly wide rims, usubata were first cast in Japan in the seventeenth century for formal flower arrangements; then, during the early Meiji era, elaborate multi-part usubata became one of the favored forms of bronze destined for international exhibitions and the global export market.

图片