Japanese bronzes of the Meiji period

Image one of a pair of musicians, Miyao, about 1890-1900. The Edwin and Susan Davies Collection

In 1868, following the downfall of Japan's military government, the Emperor Meiji was restored to power. Japanese artisans, particularly metalworkers, lost their traditional samurai patrons and were obliged to find new markets for their skills.

Emerging from its feudal past, Japan developed as a modern industrialised and economic power. It employed western technicians and advisors to work with Japanese artisans in developing new and improved methods of production. At the great international exhibitions that were then in vogue, Japan displayed its traditional arts and crafts, as well as other forms of manufacture.

The objects illustrated here were on loan from the collection of Edwin and Susan Davies, generous supporters of the Museum, and were displayed in the Toshiba Gallery. They illustrate many of Japan's traditional metalworking techniques, such as bronze-casting, patination, decorative inlay and chasing (fine working of the finished surface). These had previously been used to great effect on arms and armour for the samurai, but here they have been transferred to purely decorative objects. Like other forms of art produced during the Meiji period (1868-1912), these pieces illustrate a fascinating fusion of traditional Japanese techniques and themes with western forms and ideas.

Covered vessel, Kawaguchi

Covered vessel
Signed: 'Made by Kawaguchi of Tokyo City, Great Japan'
About 1885-1910
Patinated, gilt and inlaid iron
The Edwin and Susan Davies Collection

The decorative vessel in the form of an incense burner combines many aspects of the Japanese metalworkers' superb skills. The pedestal has similarities to the inlaid metalwork of Komai of Kyoto; the main body is decorated with chrysanthemums in the style of lacquerwork and the lid has two silver sculpted cranes. Each side of the vessel has finely detailed panels by different artists. The panel visible in the photograph shows a noblewoman of the tenth century, possibly the renowned author Sei Shonagon, closing the blinds on her veranda against a sudden snow flurry.

An image showing the side panel in more detail is available here

Vase, about 1885-1905. The Edwin and Susan Davies Collection

Vase
Unsigned
Japan
About 1885-1905
Cast, chased, patinated, gilded and inlaid bronze
The Edwin and Susan Davies Collection

This vase is decorated with separately applied exotic birds perched on a blossoming magnolia tree, among lilies, chrysanthemums and other flowers. The finely detailed decoration, executed in a wide range of techniques traditionally associated with the makers of sword fittings, is typical of purely decorative metalwork of the later Meiji period.

Lidded vase, Komai

Lidded vase
Signed: 'Made by Komai of the Western Capital [Kyoto] Japan'
About 1890-1900
Patinated and inlaid iron
The Edwin and Susan Davies Collection

This pumpkin-shaped lidded vase is typical of the work of Komai of Kyoto, who produced considerable numbers of inlaid russet iron objects for the western market. The subjects depicted in the medallions which decorate the sides of the vase include birds, flowers, views of Kyoto and scenes from Japanese legend and all are on an iron ground with inlaid geometric and stylised floral motifs. Komai's technique of gold and silver inlay is sometimes referred to as 'Kyoto damascene'.

Detail of a covered vessel, Izumi

Detail of a covered vessel in the form of an incense burner (koro)
Signed: 'Cast by Izumi'
Japan
About 1880-1900
Patinated, gilt and inlaid bronze
The Edwin and Susan Davies Collection

This vessel looks like a traditional incense burner but is actually a purely decorative object, intended perhaps for the western market. It is expertly decorated with patinated and gilt carp (shown here) swimming under bush clover (hagi) and flying geese in high relief.

Image one of a pair of musicians, Miyao

Image one of a pair of musicians
Signed: 'Miyao', with a seal mark
Japan
About 1890-1900
Cast, patinated, chased and gilded bronze
The Edwin and Susan Davies Collection

The image shown here is of one of two figures, a boy with ornate hair and an older man wearing a court cap, both of whom carry swords and play the fue, the traditional Japanese flute. Their hands, feet and heads are patinated a rich red colour. Their robes, which appear to be blowing in a breeze, have a lightly hammered surface and gilt decoration. One set of robes features cranes, plovers and waves, the other bamboo and paulownia leaves.

View the other figure from this pair

One of a pair of dancers, Miyao

One of a pair of dancers
Signed: 'Made by Miyao'
About 1890-1900
Cast, patinated, chased and gilded bronze
The Edwin and Susan Davies Collection

These two figures, one of which is illustrated here, represent Manzai dancers, itinerant performers who dance from house to house at New Year in double-act of a straight man and a fool. They both wear lacquered hats and carry respectively a drum and folding fan. Their hands, feet and heads are patinated a rich red colour. Their robes have gilt decoration of dragons, cranes, karakusa (scrolling Chinese grass) and the Buddhist hosoge flower.

View the other figure from this pair

One of a pair of tusks, Sekine Hamunin

One of pair of carved tusks
Signed: 'Respectfully carved by Sekine Hamunin', with seal mark
Japan
About 1880-1900
Carved ivory
The Edwin and Susan Davies Collection

Decorative ivory pieces such as this were exported mainly for display in western homes. These substantial tusks are typical of work produced during the later Meiji period. They are intricately carved with various Buddhist scenes, including some of the 1,200 rakan (disciples of the Buddha) together with their animal counterparts and flying heavenly creatures (tennin).

View a detail of the other tusk from this pair

Vase, unsigned but possibly by Hayashi Kodenji

Vase
Unsigned but possibly by Hayashi Kodenji (1831-1915)
Japan
About 1980
Cloisonné enamel on a copper body
The Edwin and Susan Davies Collection

This vase is decorated in cloisonné enamels, in which the different colours are outlined in copper and silver wire. The design is of birds perched on wisteria, with chrysanthemums in the foreground. Cloisonné work on such a large scale was not uncommon at a time when Japanese artisans were keen to demonstrate their technical and artistic skills to the full, especially to the burgeoning western market. From around the 1840s, Nagoya was the centre of the renaissance of Japanese cloisonné production, and Hayashi Kodenji was one of the most influential cloisonné makers of his time.

Buddhist guardian deity, Nishimura Unshō

Buddhist guardian deity (possibly Bishamonten)
Incense burner signed: 'Cast by Nishimura Unsho'
Japan
About 1880-1900
Cast, chased and patinated bronze
The Edwin and Susan Davies Collection

The figure represents one of the Buddhist guardian deities of the four cardinal directions of the universe. His flowing robes are decorated with dragons and his armour is modelled in the style of Buddhist sculptures of the Chinese T'ang period (618-906 AD).

The V&A exhibition 'Japanese Bronzes of the Meiji Period' was on display 13 October 2005 - 2 May 2006.