33 - MIYAO: A SUPERB AND RARE PARCEL-GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF A HUNTER WITH A TANEGASHIMA TEPPO RIFLE

MIYAO: A SUPERB AND RARE PARCEL-GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF A HUNTER WITH A TANEGASHIMA TEPPO RIFLE By the Miyao company of Yokohama, signed Miyao Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912) Finely cast and superbly detailed, the hunter standing with his legs firmly braced and body leaning forward as he raises a long tanegashima matchlock rifle to his shoulder, his cheek pressed against the stock as he takes aim. He is dressed in richly patterned garments beneath a textured straw raincoat, the robes finely decorated in relief and parcel-gilt with phoenix roundels, wheel motifs, scrolling clouds, and other auspicious designs. A sword is secured at his back. His expressive face is naturalistically modeled with furrowed brows and narrowed eyes, conveying intense concentration. The back with an inlaid gilt rectangular reserve signed MIYAO. The figure is mounted on its original wood stand with four bracket feet, finely decorated in gold hiramaki-e with stylized phoenixes and scrolling foliage. HEIGHT 28 cm (incl. stand), 20 cm (excl. stand) WEIGHT 2.7 kg (incl. stand) Provenance: Christie’s New York, 18 September 2013, lot 715, sold for USD 23,750 or approx. EUR 30,100 (converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). Flying Cranes Antiques, New York, United States. Collection of Eduardo Cohen, acquired from the above upon the closure of the gallery in 2017. Flying Cranes Antiques was founded by Jean and Clifford Schaefer and became a leading New York specialist in Japanese Meiji-period art, particularly metalwork, cloisonné, ceramics, lacquer, and carvings. Over more than four decades, the gallery placed important works in major private and museum collections internationally. Significantly, Flying Cranes still retained a substantial collection of fine Meiji works when it closed in 2017; in her farewell, Jean Schaefer recorded that the gallery’s collections had passed to a purchaser. The present piece formed part of this final gallery collection and was acquired by Eduardo Cohen at the time of its closure. Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear. The stand with little rubbing to the gilt, minor flaking to the lacquer, and few tiny nicks to the underside. Founded by Miyao Eisuke, the Miyao Company of Yokohama specialized in the manufacture of bronze sculptures, embellished with gold and silver as well as patinated copper alloys, that represent generic samurai warriors as well as more precisely identifiable characters from Japanese myth and legend. In addition, the company also made a smaller number of pieces in other formats such as incense-burners, vases, and chargers. Auction comparison: Compare a related bronze figure of a hunter, by Miyao Eisuke of Yokohama, dated Meiji period, at Sotheby’s, Asian Art, 6 December 2007, Paris, lot 177 (at an estimate of EUR 12,000 or approx. EUR 16,500 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).