1 - MAKINO: A MASSIVE (78.5 CM) BRONZE ‘DRAGON AND TIGER’ VASE WITH CRYSTAL TAMA

MAKINO: A MASSIVE (78.5 CM) BRONZE ‘DRAGON AND TIGER’ VASE WITH CRYSTAL TAMA By Makino, signed Makino no sei Japan, Meiji period (1868–1912) Impressively cast on a monumental scale, the massive globular body supported on a short circular foot and rising through a slender neck to a widely flaring trumpet-shaped mouth encircled by a geometric fret border. A powerful, three-dimensional dragon coils dramatically around the neck, its sinuous body meticulously detailed with overlapping scales, branching horns, flowing mane, and curling whiskers, one raised claw grasping a crystal tama (sacred jewel). The broad body is cast in exceptionally bold relief with a ferocious tiger standing upon a rocky outcrop amid turbulent waves, its head raised and jaws open in a fierce roar as it confronts the dragon above. The dynamic composition continues around the lower section with further cresting waves. The bronze exhibiting a rich chocolate-brown patina. Signed to the underside MAKINO NO SEI [Made by Makino]. HEIGHT 78.5 cm, DIAMETER 44.8 cm WEIGHT 33 kg Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and casting irregularities. A loss to a section of the dragon's tail. The bronze exhibiting a rich chocolate-brown patina. With a removable metal liner. The flourishing bronze workshops of Meiji-period Tokyo produced some of the finest examples of Japanese metalwork, combining traditional casting techniques with increasingly ambitious sculptural compositions. Among these are works bearing the seal Makino, including naturalistically modeled figural groups and elaborate vessels distinguished by their dynamic compositions and meticulous surface detail. Although the precise identity of the artist or workshop remains largely undocumented, surviving examples demonstrate the exceptional technical refinement and sculptural naturalism characteristic of the Tokyo School during this period. The dragon and tiger (ryuko) constitute one of the most powerful and enduring subjects in East Asian art, embodying opposing yet complementary forces of nature. Traditionally, the dragon represents the heavens, clouds, and water, while the tiger symbolizes the earth and wind. Their dramatic confrontation evokes the dynamic balance of yin and yang, expressing the harmony of seemingly opposing powers. Here, the motif is given particular force through the imposing scale of the vessel and the bold sculptural treatment of the two creatures, their confrontation extending vertically from the turbulent waters below to the dragon soaring above. Auction comparison: Compare a related large bronze vase, sealed Dai Nihon Kano Seiun chu kore, dated to the early 20th century, 92.7 cm high, similarly decorated with a dragon encircling the neck above breaking waves, at Christie's, Japanese and Korean Art, 20 March 2013, New York, lot 679 (sold for USD 7,500 or approx. EUR 9,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).