39 - † A RARE BRONZE ‘OWL’ LANTERN

† A RARE BRONZE ‘OWL’ LANTERN Japan, early 20 th century, Meiji (1868-1912) to Taisho period (1912-1926) Finely cast in the form of a horned owl (mimizuku) perched upon a gnarled branch, its rounded body intricately reticulated with overlapping, scalloped feathers, the deeply pierced openings designed to allow light to shine through from within. The expressive head is naturalistically modeled with large, circular pierced eyes framed by finely striated feathered discs, a prominent hooked beak, and sharply pointed ear tufts. The plumage is meticulously detailed with individually articulated feathers, the layered wings extending down either side of the body, while the powerful talons firmly grasp the branch below. The crown is fitted with a substantial suspension ring, the bronze displaying an attractive, dark patina with warm brown highlights. HEIGHT 35 cm WEIGHT 2.1 kg Provenance: Christie’s, Creatures, Great and Small, 17 December 2014, London, lot 11. From a British collection, acquired from the above. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and traces of age. The bottom plate is lost. The metal suspension chain shown in the photographs is for illustration purposes only and is not included in the lot. Auction comparison: Compare a related bronze reticulated beast-form lantern, dated 19 th century or later, 52.1 cm tall, at Christie’s, The Collection of Pierre Durand, 27 January 2022, New York, lot 1 (sold for USD 12,500 or approx. EUR 13,000 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.