【Important notes】 ・International buyers are responsible for any import duties, taxes, and charges not included in the item price or shipping cost. Please note that VAT paid to Catawiki is separate from and does not cover import duties or customs charges in your country. You may still be required to pay additional fees upon delivery, as determined by your local customs authorities. ・Shipping Details: Most items are shipped via Japan Post EMS (airmail). If you are in a hurry, we can arrange shipping via DHL or FedEx upon request for an additional fee. ・Damage and Issues: If you receive a damaged item, please contact us immediately. The damage must be reported to your local post office within 7 days of delivery, and promptly to us and Catawiki support. 【Product details】 A Showa period Takaoka copper vase created using the traditional lost-wax casting method, made by Hirai Shoho (平井 昇甫), a distinguished metal artist known for his many awards in the Nitten exhibitions. The surface is richly decorated in high relief with pomegranate, peach, physalis, persimmon, chestnut and pear. The artist’s signature is engraved beneath the pomegranate. Takaoka metalwork has its origins in 1611, when Maeda Toshinaga, the second lord of the Kaga Domain, invited metal casters and established a foundry as part of his plan to develop the castle town of Takaoka. The craft flourished through the production of bronze flower vases, Buddhist implements and other cast objects decorated with intricate metal engraving. By the Meiji period, Takaoka copperware had gained international recognition, exhibiting at events such as the Paris Exposition and earning a strong global reputation. Each motif carries an auspicious meaning in Japanese art. The pomegranate symbolises fertility and abundance. The peach represents longevity, protection and the power to ward off evil. Physalis evokes good fortune and guidance. The persimmon is associated with wisdom, autumn bounty and cultural refinement. The chestnut signifies prosperity and strength, while the European pear represents nourishment, blessings and gentle prosperity. Hirai Shōho studied under the nationally designated Living National Treasure Suga Shoen at the age of seventeen, mastering the lost-wax casting technique. In 1975, at the age of forty-four, he was officially recognised as a Traditional Craftsman by the Association for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries. There are abrasions, discolouration, age-related patina and some areas of green verdigris, and the interior shows areas of corrosion with flaking. Good used condition. Please check the photos for details. Dimensions: approx. H 27.5 cm W 22 cm D 21 cm ・Please make sure to review all the provided information and images before placing your bid. ・We make every effort to accurately represent the product's colors and textures in our photos. However, due to differences in monitors and device displays, as well as photographic conditions, slight color variations between the photos and the actual product may occur. We ask for your understanding in advance. Thank you for your interest, and happy bidding!