21 - † YAMAMOTO KOKEN: A SUPERB AND LARGE MIXED METAL INLAID BRONZE ‘SAKURA’ VASE

† YAMAMOTO KOKEN: A SUPERB AND LARGE MIXED METAL INLAID BRONZE ‘SAKURA’ VASE By Yamamoto Koken, signed Koken Japan, c. 1900, Meiji period (1868-1912) Masterfully crafted, the tall ovoid body rising from a narrow base to broad, rounded shoulders, a short waisted neck, and an everted rim. The lustrous, warm copper-brown ground superbly decorated in gold, silver, and iro-e takazogan with three magnificent sakura trees, their gracefully twisting trunks and spreading branches rendered in contrasting shades of silver-gray and dark patinated alloys. The bark is meticulously chased with fine horizontal striations, while the slender branches are adorned with countless delicate blossoms, each individually worked with finely delineated petals and minute gilt stamens, interspersed with pointed leaves and tightly closed buds. Some branches are laden with fully opened blossoms, while others bear only emerging flowers and unopened buds, capturing the trees at different stages of flowering. The overlapping branches create a remarkable sense of depth and movement, their intricate, naturalistic arrangement beautifully balanced by the smooth, lustrous bronze ground. The trees rise from gently undulating ground, subtly engraved along the lower body. Signed KOKEN to the reverse. HEIGHT 37 cm WEIGHT 4.9 kg Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear. Yamamoto Koken was an accomplished Kyoto metalworker active during the Meiji period, known for his finely executed bronze vessels decorated with intricate mixed-metal inlay. His works are characterized by naturalistic designs, meticulous attention to detail, and a refined use of contrasting metals and patinas. His artistry reflects the flourishing of Japanese decorative metalwork during the Meiji period, when traditional metalworking techniques were increasingly applied to sophisticated ornamental objects that attracted international recognition through the great world exhibitions. The present vase is a particularly accomplished example of Koken's artistry, remarkable for both the extraordinary precision of its metalwork and the poetic beauty of its composition. Rather than depicting the sakura trees in uniform bloom, the artist captures the fleeting transition from bud to blossom, with some branches bursting into flower while others are only beginning to awaken. The individually articulated petals, minute stamens, delicately shaped leaves, and finely textured bark reveal an exceptional sensitivity to nature. The contrast between the densely flowering branches and the expansive, unadorned bronze ground creates an elegant, almost painterly composition of remarkable refinement. In Japanese aesthetics, the ephemeral beauty of sakura evokes the transience of life, a sentiment particularly beautifully expressed here through the different stages of flowering. Literature comparison: Compare another work by Yamamoto Koken in the Khalili Collection of Japanese Art, a shibuichi koro with a reticulated cover, similarly decorated with delicate sakura blossoms, measuring 10.5 cm in height, illustrated in Oliver Impey and Malcolm Fairley, Meiji No Takara: Treasures of Imperial Japan, Vol. II, Metalwork Part Two, 1995, pl. 89. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related mixed-metal bronze vase with sakura motif, by Kuroda Kiichi, 36.8 cm tall, at Bonhams, Fine Asian Works of Art, 9 December 2008, San Francisco, lot 5229 (sold for USD 12,000 or approx. EUR 17,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). 13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium - only for buyers within the EU.