Japanese Silvered Bronze Egrets Okimono by Sano Takachika

As part of our Japanese works of art collection we are delighted to offer this exceptional quality Meiji Period 1868-1912 silvered bronze & mixed metal okimono depicting a pair of Egrets upon a hardwood base, the finely cast & chiseled Egrets are by the highly regarded Meiji period artist Sano Takachika, the sculpture depicts one bird with a fish in its beak whilst its mate stoops before him, the artist is recorded as working in Tokyo as part of the Tokyo sculpture society where he clearly excelled in the study of birds and their individual feather characteristics, as demonstrated here, the remarkable attention to detail can be seen in the drawing of the birds and the plumage particularly to the rear of the Egrets, the legs and beaks formed as shibuichi and shakudo with the eyes picked out in gilt, the birds are located on pegs to the carved wood simulated rock pool base and each are signed by Takachika in a rectangular seal to the underside. A most charming rendition of a pair of Egrets in a natural habitat, perfect for your Japanese works of art collection or Japanese themed space.

Literature :

A few examples of work by this artist are recorded in well known worldwide collections, two examples can be found in the Khalili collection, Meiji No Takara Treasures of Imperial Japan , metalwork volume II, plate 120 displays a hawk Koro on perch and plate 121 shows a very similar decorated pigeon Koro on stand, the volume also suggests a snake and eagle Koro on a tree trunk is recorded in the well known collection of Michael Tomkinson at plate 72 .

The artist Sano Takachika was a master of hammering, metal carving and chiseling and a recorded member of the Tokyo Chokokai ( Tokyo association of carvers and sculpters ) he is known to have exhibited at many of the expositions of the period  including the Japan art society spring exhibition of 1894 where he exhibited gold and silver figures of a heron and a crow .

Condition report :

Lovely condition throughout

Approximate Sizes :

Length : 16 3/4"  42 cm

Depth :  6 1/4"     16 cm

Height : 9.0"        23 cm

Free worldwide delivery and a certificate of authenticity are included in the price of this item.

Available during usual business hours 7 days a week by prior appointment only.

Available out of hours for general enquiries : sales@stagsheadantiques.com or steve@steveslyjapaneseart.com

Tel 07774-635918