Lot description

Details

An elaborate soft-metal and bronze sculpture
Meiji period (late 19th century), signed Shoami Katsuyoshi sen (carved by Shoami Katsuyoshi; 1832-1908) on an inlaid silver reserve
Constructed as a large lotus with long stalks, flower, buds, leaves and root, finely worked in gold, silver, shakudo, shibuichi, copper and gilt with a swallow perched and seeking for a tadpole on a lotus root, the life-like tadpole, swallow and clam finely carved and chiseled, the hammered leaves richly finished with inlaid gold, the mottled surface resembles the natural texture of the lotus leaves and root, signature on base
18 in. (45.7 cm.) high
With original wood box titled Kobo tsubame kaerugo (lotus, swallow and tadpole) on the front side of the lid, signed Shoami Katsuyoshi and cursive monogram on the reverse

Provenance

Private collection, Okayama Prefecture, Japan

Quoted from the lot page, © Christie's. Christie's, AN INQUIRING MIND: AMERICAN COLLECTING OF JAPANESE AND KOREAN ART, 2016-04-15, lot 72 ↗