This is a rare and exquisite silver ikebana basket of globular form.
Usually woven in bamboo, but here worked in Japanese silver, its
elegant body is woven in tight herring-bone plaiting, a double-looped
handle wrapped to the body and knotted at the top.This type of ikebana
basket represents one of the traditional styles of bamboo basketry
sought for by serious collectors of ikebana worldwide. This particular
example, an innovation executed in heavy Japanese silver, gives this piece
a p... Click for details
This is a rare collector's piece - a silver buckle, shaped as two extra -large kashira, both plates locking to form a battle scene between two fierce samurai warriors.
Clad in full armor, their swords crossed in battle, the samurai are worked in high relief and inlaid with gilt and silver. Their armor also is inlaid with the most interesting and intricate textural patterns, each maedate with motif identifying their shogun.
The somewhat coarse background treatment simulates iron - so often used... Click for details
A silver rectangular box on four bracketed feet with the legendary Japanese lore describing Taira no Tadamori and the oil thief in high sculptural relief on its lid. Worked with copper and gilt on an incised ground, the scene depicts the moment when Taira no Tadamori captures the thief who had terrorized the town for several nights disguised as a monster with a straw rain coat and fire-emitting torch. The scene shows Tadamori standing in triumph, the thief submissively prone while the oil from... Click for details
A pair of fine glass and silver decanters of conical form with pierced silver stylized bamboo stalks and leaves embracing its surface. The silver stoppers capture the art deco-inspired conical shape of the vessels. The bases and stoppers are marked "Sterling 950." ( Japanese silver is 950 in silver content, higher than the British sterling.) These decanters are in excellent condition with no dents or damage.
Height (both): 12"
Late Taisho/Showa Period, Japan
A silver hand mirror finely executed with a massive three-toed dragon
carved
in high relief on a partly-hammered ground, its tail coiled around the
handle. Well chiseled and incised details naturalistically depict the
scales and musculature characteristic of the work of
Japanese smiths of the Meiji Period. The rim is signed "Samurai
Shokai,
Yokohama, 1000". (The Samurai Shokai was a well-established studio in
Yokohama specializing in silver works. This piece is marked "1000"
- 10... Click for details
A footed silver and enamel koro with lobed body, cover with finial
formed as an enameled flower. On each lobe, Tennin (Buddhist angels) emerge
from auspicious clouds each holding a musical instrument and
lotus flower. Garbed in flowing robes with "celestial scarves"
encircling their bodies, the figures are worked in high relief with carved
and incised details, their robes adorned in luxuriously colored enamels.
This koro is signed on the base with gilt signature cartouche "Mitsuharu,"... Click for details
Beautiful Japanese censor, silver filigree with flowers, lid with wonderful little silver quail, stands on 4 silver legs; two shibayama reserves with flowers, butterflies,
and a bird inlaid with mother of pearl and tortoise shell on a gold lacquer ground, signed on inside, Meiji Period.
4" high x 4" wide
Here is a fine example of Japanese export silver from one of the Meiji
Period's
premier studios. Comprised of four pieces, this tea and coffee service includes coffee pot,
tea pot, sugar and creamer designed ensuite with surging dragons in
high relief on a
partly-hammered ground. Continuing with the same theme, the finials on the lids are also
decorated with a coiled dragon.
The bases are carved "Arthur & Bond, Yokohama". The coffee and tea
set is in excellent condition.
... Click for details
A richly crafted French glass decanter on a pedestal base overlaid with
Japanese silver. On its body, kiku, sakura and hibiscus are pierced with
chiseled
details decorating the surface. Four silver-capped stoppers keep the
contents
of the four chambers safely in place. This decanter is a fine example of
the cross-cultural marriage that occurred during the Meiji Period, in this
case western form combining with Japanese symbols and motifs. The glass base
is
marked "Made in France" an... Click for details
An exquisite silver and enamel bottle-shaped vase with
intricate silver and enamel brocading in relief along the neck
and foot. Kiku, iris and wild flowers are richly enameled in full
bloom on its textured ground.
This vase is in excellent condition with no dents or damage.
Silver signature cartouche of the artist Nemoto can
be found on the base.
Height: 7.5"
Meiji Period, Japan
