A mixed-metal-inlaid iron jar and cover

MEIJI PERIOD (LATE 19TH CENTURY), SIGNED KASHIMA IPPU (1826-1884)

Details

A mixed-metal-inlaid iron jar and cover
Meiji period (late 19th century), signed Kashima Ippu (1826-1884)
The ovoid body finely chiseled and inlaid in gold, silver, copper and shakudo with two panels, one designed with a bird perched on a hanging flower basket and another with a bird, insects and grasses, the shoulder with lappets of dragon and phoenixes, the body and foot with band of stylized dragon pattern, all against a gold lacquer ground with floral diaperwork (kikko hanabishi) and wave, the lid set with a kirin finial; signature on base
19 3/8 in. (49.2 cm.) high

Lot Essay

Kashima Ippu was a brother of Ikkokusai Mitsuyuki (1822-1882). They were both known as masters of the nunomezogan technique in particular.

For a bronze plaque by Ippu exhibited in the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 and now in the collection of Tokyo National Museum, see Umi wo watatta Meiji no bijutsu - saiken Chicago, Columbus sekai hakurankai / World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 Revisited - 19th century Japanese art shown in Chicago, U.S.A (Tokyo: Tokyo National Museum, 1997), pl. 79.

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