12 - YUKIMITSU: A SUPERB SILVER AND MIXED-METAL ‘LOVEBIRDS’ OKIMONO OF TWO DOVES AND DANDELIONS

YUKIMITSU: A SUPERB SILVER AND MIXED-METAL ‘LOVEBIRDS’ OKIMONO OF TWO DOVES AND DANDELIONS By Yukimitsu, signed Yukimitsu saku Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912) Superbly and naturalistically cast as a courting pair of doves perched closely together on a gnarled tree trunk, their heads gently inclined toward one another. The female is rendered in silver, her plumage exquisitely chased and engraved with individually delineated feathers, while the male is worked in dark shibuichi, his breast, neck, and wings richly enlivened with gold, suaka, and shakudo hirazogan, evoking the more pronounced iridescence of the male bird. The beaks and feet are picked out in gilt, subtly uniting the contrasting metals. Beneath the pair, the naturalistically modeled rocky trunk is applied with dandelions emerging between the roots, their leaves and newly opened blossoms rendered in contrasting patinated and gilt metal. The composition evokes the arrival of spring, when dandelions begin to flower and doves enter a period of active courtship and breeding. Long associated with fidelity and conjugal affection, the birds are shown in an intimate pose, the darker male gently nestling toward his silver companion, while the fresh blossoms below reinforce the themes of renewal, courtship, and the awakening of nature. The silver bird signed YUKIMITSU saku [made by Yukimitsu]. LENGTH 30.5 cm (incl. stand), 14.5 cm (the birds) WEIGHT 3.1 kg (incl. stand), 297 g (silver dove), 319 g (shibuichi dove) Provenance: 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, founded by Jean and Clifford Schaefer, became one of New York’s leading specialists in Japanese Meiji-period art, with a particular emphasis on the virtuoso metalwork, cloisonné, ceramics, lacquer, and carvings produced by the foremost artists of the period. Over more than four decades, the gallery placed important works in major private and museum collections internationally. Flying Cranes continued to retain a substantial collection of fine Meiji works until its closure in 2017; in her farewell, Jean Schaefer recorded that the gallery’s collections had passed to a purchaser. The present okimono formed part of this final gallery collection and was acquired by Eduardo Cohen at the time of its closure. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear including a tiny dent to one head. The separately cast legs with old reattachments at the joints, consistent with their construction. Auction comparison: Compare a related silver and shibuichi okimono of two pigeons, dated Meiji period, 14 cm long (the pigeons), at Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, 17 May 2012, London, lot 351 (sold for GBP 6,250 or approx. EUR 11,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).