A Large Bronze Vase

MEIJI PERIOD (LATE 19TH CENTURY), WITH SEAL KAKO CHU (CAST BY KAKO [SUZUKI CHOKICHI (1848-1919)])

Details

A Large Bronze Vase
Meiji period (late 19th century), with seal Kako chu (Cast by Kako [Suzuki Chokichi (1848-1919)])
The tall slender body flaring out at the mid section and tapering again at the neck with two phoenix-head handles and cast and carved with a band of tightly scrolling foliage in low relief at the midsection, the lower body decorated with achaic lappets and the neck with a band of lozenges of keyfrets and florets below a keyfret rim, some foliage and eyes of the phoenixes gilt; dark brown patina with patches of reddish-brown highlights; seal on base
16 3/8in. (41.6cm.) high

Lot Essay

Suzuki Chokichi used the art name Kako and produced several bronzes that took their inspiration from archaic Chinese and Japanese forms. During his association with the Kiritsu Kosho Kaisha company, a trading company established after the Vienna exhibition of 1873, Chokichi and his associates developed a hybrid style that combined elements from Japanese, Chinese and Western design. The present example, bearing Chokichi's art name, shows a distinctive Chinese flare in its form while the decoration on the lower body is reminiscent of Japanese Jomon pottery.

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