As part of our Japanese works of art collection we are delighted to offer this complex outstanding quality Meiji Period (1868-1912) incense burner, manufactured by an artist recorded as working in Takaoka city between 1875-1900. The tall koro stands upon a bronze hexagonal base each leg carved as mythical beast in exquisite detail, the shaped feet further inlaid with decoration formed from sheets of shakudo and gold of a gauge rarely encountered, these were expensive materials even at that time. The top of the base gives rise to carved waves upon which three tall slender legs support the vessel above, these legs rise as phoenix carrying pendants, and are once again sumptuously onlaid with shakudo, gold and silver. The globular body is inlaid with pairs of birds amidst swags and garlands of gold, silver and shakudo interspersed with a central band of opposing serpents between gold borders, the globular koro houses a pair of winged phoenix handles each carrying tied shakudo garlands in t...