As part of our Japanese works of art collection we are absolutely delighted to offer this quite remarkable and incredibly scarce piece of Meiji period 1868-1912 metalwork from a leading Tokyo artist of the late 19th Century, the solid silver finely chiseled hawk is decorated with gold and shakudo detailed feathers throughout, the workmanship, and in particular the feather chiseling is quite remarkable, his menacing eyes are also picked out in gold and shakudo with a solid shakudo gilt decorated beak, the hawks gilded legs are formed and hand hammered in a nanako finish to exacting detail and culminate with razor sharp shakudo talons , the bird rests upon its original and wonderful quality black lacquer and silver mounted perch (Toboko), the perch finely decorated with a gold lacquer dragon writhing throughout the frame, amidst bands of multi shaded gold lacquer stylised clouds of smoke , the three hand chiseled silver mounts on the crossbar decorated with Imperial chrysanthemum and other native flora upon a finely hand stippled ground, the bird itself has been cleverly formed as a koro, with a removable pierced back feather section revealing the interior compartment intended for incense , the inside of this solid silver lid chiseled with the artist signature for “Sano Takachika” probably the most highly revered and rarest of all Meiji period metalworkers specializing in particular in koro in the form of Birds.
Notes:
It is without hesitation that I suggest that this hawk on stand would grace any museum, or serious Japanese art collection in the world, it is an absolute pleasure to own , handle and bring this remarkable piece of Meiji period craftsmanship to the market.
Literature:
A few other examples of work by this artist are recorded in well known worldwide collections , two examples can be found in the Khalili collection, Meiji No Takara Treasures of Imperial Japan , Metalwork Volume II ,plate 120 displays a similar hawk koro on perch and plate 121 shows a very similar decorated pigeon koro on stand, the volume also suggests a snake and eagle koro on a tree trunk is recorded in the well known collection of Michael Tomkinson at plate 72 .
The artist Sano Takachika was a master of hammering , metal carving and chiseling and a recorded member of the Tokyo Chokokai ( Tokyo association of carvers and sculpters ) he is known to have exhibited at many of the expositions of the time including the Japan art society spring exhibition of 1894 where he exhibited gold and silver figures of a heron and a crow .
Condition report:
It would only be fair to say the condition is exceptional throughout !!
Approximate sizes:
Height: 33 1/4″ 84.5 cm (total height)
Width: 19 1/4″ 49 cm
Depth: 9 1/2″ 24 cm
Hawk: 11 1/2″ 29 cm ( tail feathers to beak )
Free worldwide delivery and a certificate of authenticity are included in the price of this item .