Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries

Visitors' Forum

Asian Art Forums - Reply Message
Asian Art Forums

Message Listing by Date:
Message Index | Back | Post a New Message | Search | Private Mail | FAQ
Subject:chinese or japanese bronze
Posted By: chris blair-myers Sun, Feb 22, 2015 IP: 82.34.239.202
I have had this bronze for many years but never really worked out what it is. The decoration looks Chinese but the three clawed dragon looks decidedly Japanese. From the beveled rim I assumed that there was once a reticulated cover. The body is corroded through in a couple of places and he has lost a couple of claws. The "seal" on the base look very odd and poorly done. I would welcome some enlightenment on what has sat on my cabinet for the past 20 years. I add a link to the web page that has some high res images

Link :Images of three clawed dragon bronze


Subject:Re: chinese or japanese bronze
Posted By: Guy Mon, Feb 23, 2015
It is Japanese. The seal reads partially 'Dai Nippon' (Great Japan), indicating that this is a Meiji era piece. I should date it ca 1875-1880s.
I could have a try to read that seal further if you could post a sharper image of it.

Guy.

Post a Reply
Name:
Email:
Group: China & Japan
Subject:
Message:
Link URL:
Enter here the complete URL of any site, page or image you would like to show other visitors.
URL Title:
Enter here the title of the link you've given above. This will appear to the visitor. Eg., if you are linking another picture, enter "Another picture". The link will not appear without a title.
Image URL:
Enter here the URL of an image if it is already uploaded on the web. The image will appear with your posting. Do not post pictures which are not yours without permission from the copyright holder. It is the responsibility of each poster to make sure they have permission to use any photos they post.
Image: You may upload up to three images. If you would like to upload more images to this message please do so by replying to this same message.

Please make sure the file type is JPEG or GIF and the filename does not contain spaces.




Use the Browse button to find an image (jpg or gif) on a local drive on your computer to upload for including with your message. Do not upload images with file names containing spaces. Please do not upload files larger than 500 KB in size. Do not post pictures which are not yours without permission from the copyright holder. It is the responsibility of each poster to make sure they have permission to use any photos they post. Check the "email notification" box below if you would like to be notified of any responses to your message.
Check here for email notification.
Security Code: Security Image: please enter the text appears in this image.

Please type in the code you see in the image directly above this input box.

Subject:Re: chinese or japanese bronze
Posted By: Bill H Mon, Feb 23, 2015
The piece definitely is Japanese, as the mark begins with "Imperial Japan" (Dai Ni-hon - or Dai Nip-pon). The small size of the mark within your photo doesn't bode well for accurate translation. So unless someone with a better eye than I shows up to take on the job, please provide a better close-up of the mark.

Thanks,

Bill H.

Subject:Re: chinese or japanese bronze
Posted By: chris blair-myers Wed, Feb 25, 2015
Hi Thanks for the responses all very helpful. I have tried to make some hi res images of the seal and added them to the top of the page of the web link. It is so poorly cast that no matter what I try with the lighting the second and last characters are little more than blobs.

Chris

Subject:Re: chinese or japanese bronze
Posted By: Guy Thu, Feb 26, 2015
Did some additional research because this is an interesting piece.

Your item is a 'suiban' (flower vessel or jardiniere for the tea ceremony). I could identify the seal mark 'Dai Nippon, Toto (no) ju, Toun iru' (大日本東都住渡雲鋳 - Great Japan, Toto resident, casted by Toun).
Toto is an alternative name for Tokyo.

The artist is Kimura Toun, pupil of Murata Seimin.
This is early Meiji metalwork from the 1870s and not made for export.

Similar suiban made by Toun:
http://www.lombardiabeniculturali.it/opere-arte/schede/6c070-00107/

Other item bearing the same seal can be viewed here:
http://www.kaiungaku.com/shin-oki61/e0858.html

To my surprise, I found also a reference to an object in the 'Catalogue of Specimens of Japanese Lacquer and Metal Work Exhibited in 1894'. London, containing a description that matches with your suiban. I wonder if this could have been the object in your possession.
the catalogue can by viewed also online (look for #40), 'Toto' is misread in the description as Kyoto:

http://www.forgottenbooks.com/readbook_text/Catalogue_of_Specimens_of_Japanese_Lacquer_and_Metal_Work_Exhibited_in_1000905744/95

Guy


Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries |