MIYABE ATSUYOSHI: A SUPERB PAIR OF PARCEL-GILT AND INLAID BRONZE MOON FLASKS
By Miyabe Atsuyoshi, signed Atsuyoshi with kakihan
Japan, Kyoto, Meiji period (1868-1912)

The flasks with a chocolate-brown patina and a short neck, everted rim, splaying foot, and flat base, decorated in copper, silver, gilt and shakudo takazogan and incised details with roundels of water fowl in a pond with water reeds, bamboo, and flowers; a bird catching a smaller bird in its talons amid flowers and bamboo; a kingfisher catching a fish out of the water; and a bird catching a fish out of water amid crashing waves. Decorated with impressively cast, partly gilt sinuous dragons around the neck and shoulder as well as incised and gilt clouds around the roundels and the foot. Each with an incised signature ATSUYOSHI with kakihan to the base. Working out of Kyoto, Miyabe Atsuyoshi was a talented bronze smith who exhibited works domestically and internationally at the turn of the twentieth century, such as in the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, MO.

HEIGHT 15.7 cm each
WEIGHT 1,088.2 g and 1,099.4 g

Condition: Excellent condition with only few minor traces of wear.
Provenance: British collection.

Auction comparison:
Compare with a closely related pair of moon flasks by the same artist sold by Christies, Japanese & Korean Art, 23 March 2011, New York, lot 776 (sold for 8,125 USD).