15 - † A MASTERFUL AND LARGE MIXED-METAL INLAID BRONZE ‘CRANES AT NIGHT’ VASE

† A MASTERFUL AND LARGE MIXED-METAL INLAID BRONZE ‘CRANES AT NIGHT’ VASE Japan, c. 1900, Meiji period (1868-1912) Magnificently cast, the generously rounded ovoid body rising through broad shoulders to a short, waisted neck with an everted mouth. The exterior is exquisitely decorated in gold, silver, and shakudo takazogan with a flock of eleven red-crowned cranes sweeping across the night sky, evoked by the deep, lustrous black patina of the bronze. The birds are captured in wonderfully varied attitudes of flight, their elongated necks outstretched, slender legs trailing behind, and wings dramatically extended or raised, the individual feathers meticulously chased and engraved. The subtly contrasting metallic tones lend extraordinary depth and animation to the composition, with the densely overlapping birds appearing to soar through space, brilliantly offset by the vast, uninterrupted expanse of darkness below. HEIGHT 39.5 cm (excl. stand), 42.3 cm (incl. stand) WEIGHT 5.5 kg (excl. stand) Provenance: Christie’s New York, 20 March 2013, lot 669 (sold for USD 10,625 or approx. EUR 14,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). British collection, acquired from the above. Condition: Excellent condition minor wear and rubbing to the underside. With a finely carved wood presentation stand. The remarkable nocturnal composition is distinguished by its extraordinary restraint, the lustrous black patina serving not merely as a background but as an integral element of the design. The interplay of shimmering gold and silver against the profound darkness creates a striking illusion of depth, transforming the traditional auspicious motif of cranes, symbols of longevity, fidelity, and good fortune, into a breathtaking study of movement and space. The exceptional precision of the mixed-metal inlays, combined with the remarkably sophisticated arrangement of the birds, exemplifies the virtuosity of Japanese metalworkers at the turn of the 20th century. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related large mixed-metal-decorated bronze vase by the Miyao company, similarly decorated with cranes in flight, 42.5 cm high, at Christie’s, Japanese Art and Design, 20 June 2001, London, lot 85 (sold for GBP 24,675 or approx. EUR 57,000 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.