MIYAO EISUKE: A RARE AND VERY FINE BRONZE KORO
By Miyao Eisuke of Yokohama, signed MiyaoJapan, Meiji period (1868-1912)The incense burner of rounded, rectangular form raised on four elegant inome shaped feet with a stepped neck. The sides applied with imposing dragon-head handles. The slightly domed en suite cover with gilt and incised auspicious objects in relief and a handle vividly modelled as a boy blowing a trumpet. The body cast with panels of a butterfly amid chrysanthemums and a warrior firing an oversized tanegashima rifle while two others are taking cover. The artist signature MIYAO is found in a gilt reserve to the back of the boy.HEIGHT 19.8 cmWEIGHT 1470.2 gramsCondition: Superb condition with only minor wear and traces of use. Even the copper inset for the incense is original and still fits perfectly into the vessel!Provenance: From an English private collection.Tanegashima was a matchlock configured firearm introduced to Japan through the Portuguese in 1543. It was used by the samurai class and their foot soldiers (ashigaru) and within a few years the introduction of the tanegashima in battle forever changed the way war was fought in Japan.