As part of our Japanese works of art collection we are delighted to offer this most unusual solid Silver, mixed metal and enamel Koro from the early Meiji period Circa 1880, the silver vessel stands upon four long slender legs with upturned coiled toes with mythical heads finely engraved at the top, the tapered oblong form silver body has been delicately engraved throughout depicting eight decorative Mons amidst stylised flora, and beneath a geometric border , each of the two main sides of the Koro are onlaid with a Silver framed mixed metal panel , the first depicts the Goddess Kwannon (guan-yin) seated upon an Elephant while the reverse depicts a Goddess sat upon a Shi Shi Dog, each finely decorated in minute detail, the stylish scrolling handles are also decorated in a geometric pattern, the Koro houses its silver inner liner beneath the decorative silver lid , the lid itself is decorated with numerous multi coloured Cloisonné enamel panels that appear to sit in no particular order but are totally original to the piece, the finial is a shibuichi Elephant with tiny Silver tusks and a mixed metal decorative oval panel upon his back, an absolute Joy !! , upon closer inspection we discovered a tiny signature to the Elephants front leg , this reads : Fujita Toshinaga (Fujita Toshihisa ) it appears he was active during 1866, he was originally from the Aizu region and moved to Tochigi Prefecture in the Meiji Period. He is listed on page 605, in the book TOSO KINKO JITEN, by Wakayama Takeshi , and was a very competent maker of Tsuba and Sword fittings, this would help explain the slightly earlier Buddhistic style and form of the Koro , Fujita would have been one of the many artists who in 1868 were no longer commercially able to manufacture sword fittings, and so turned their incredible skills to the manufacture of items soon to be destined for the western market, the artists sheer skill, coupled with the naivety of early manufacturing processes, and little known European taste somehow still resulted in wonderful individually crafted items finding there way to market, a new Golden era was quickly emerging , it was thanks to these skilled artisans that some 15 or so years later the world market craved al things Japanese , metal wares in particular .
A unique , and probably one off Silver Koro from those early days of the great Meiji period .
Provenance: This Koro has sat untouched in a US vault since the 1960’s .
The condition is excellent !
Approximate sizes:
Height: 6.25″ 16 cm
Width: 4.25″ 11 cm
Depth: 2 3/8″ 6 cm
Free worldwide delivery included in the price of this item.