As part of our Japanese works of art collection we are delighted to offer this fascinating Meiji period 1868-1912 mixed metal okimono by one of the leading metalworkers of the late 19th century Yamada Motonobu 1847-1897, his art name Inshi, here he has portrayed the realistic scene of a pair of crabs upon a craggy rock scrapping over seaweed and shells, the crabs rendered in stunning detail out of solid silver and shibuichi, each removable as individually made okimono and fitted with silver locating pins, the rock work formed from copper with the shells and seaweed formed and decorated out of multi metal alloys including copper,gold and shibuichi, artist signed to the underside, a remarkable and very rare opportunity to own an exceptional piece from such a highly regarded artist as Motonobu .
Provenance :
2020 Vision of an enlightened ruler – plate 24
Literature :
Yamada Motonobu (1847-97) his art name Inshi ,was one of the finest of the Meiji period metalwork artists coming from a family which had served as retainers to the Mito branch of the Tokugawa family, Motonobu apparently started learning his incredible metalwork skills aged only 13, although sadly he also died at a very young age .
Motonobu is well recorded as an artist commissioned by the notable metalwork retailers the Ozeki company, and is also recorded as having served the Imperial Household in 1877.
For further examples by the artist, see the Nasser D Khalili collection, Treasures of Imperial Japan, Metalwork I plates 51 , 55 , 56 and 60 .
Condition report:
Remarkable condition throughout .
Approximate Sizes :
Length : 11″ 28 cm
Depth : 9 1/2″ 24 cm
Height : 4 3/4″ 12 cm
Free worldwide delivery and a certificate of authenticity are included within the price of this item .