As part of our Japanese art collection we are delighted to offer this outstanding quality solid cast silver and mixed metal Okimono by a leading Meiji period artist, Hasegawa Issei (his art name Gyokutosai) the later oval black lacquered base houses a pair of Manchurian Cranes in a powerful yet appealing pose , the male bird watches over the female bird that stoops before him , in my opinion the solid silver chiselled feather work is as good as you will ever see , it is certainly exhibition quality , and this artist has a long history of displaying his wares at the various Expositions in the period 1890-1920 when he appears to have been most active , the long slender legs simply peg into the base and are formed from Shibuichi , a bronze alloy that is mixed with a percentage of Silver, the tail feathers are carved from Shakudo an alloy containing a percentage of Gold and perfected by Japanese swordsmiths in the 16th century, the necks are also decorated in Shakudo whilst the Birds eyes ...