Ikebana vase - Bronze - Japan - Lemoto Authentication

This imposing and elegant Hana-ike (Ikebana vase) of high collectible value, weighing about 4.2 kg, is a piece crafted in precious Takaoka bronze (Takaoka Dōki 高岡銅器) of the utmost quality, titled "Inishie" (Antiquity) and signed by the master founder Kanamori Shoei.
Kanamori Shōei was one of the most celebrated and acclaimed master founders of the Showa Period, a key figure in the centuries-old metallurgical art of Takaoka. Renowned for his extraordinary technical skill and showcased at the prestigious Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition (Nihon Dentō Kōgei-ten), Shōei distinguished himself by creating ritual furnishings intended for the elite of the Tea Ceremony and Ikebana.
His mastery is made famous by the ability to create unique artistic patinas: in this work, the green copper verdigris fade evokes the ancient aesthetic of antique bronzes.
The direct collaboration with the 10th Iemoto of the Koryū School testifies to the extremely high prestige achieved by the artist in the landscape of Japanese kōgei.
The vase was conceived and executed according to the dictates of the Rikan-gonomi style, the favored and codified aesthetic of the historic Ikebana school Koryū. From a finishing point of view, the surface presents a refined intentional patina shaded in green copper / verdigris (rokurō-nuri or traditional artistic patination), devised by the master to confer an archaic charm to the work; it should be noted, however, that the actual verdigris tone, due to studio lights used during the photographs, may vary slightly in person or not be fully captured in the photos. To emphasize the ritual and ethical nature of the object, the base bears finely impressed in relief the two fundamental characters of the tea and floral arrangement discipline: “Sei” (Purity) and “Wa” (Harmony).
The philological value of the piece is further enhanced by its original antique accompanying set: the paulownia wooden box (Tomobako) indeed bears the precious autograph inscription “Rikan Kiwame,” accompanied by the signature and personal seal of the 10th Iemoto (Head of School and Grand Master) of the Koryū School.
In high-end collecting, the designation “Kiwame” represents the utmost and most authoritative form of authentication and direct expertise that a Head of School can confer on a ritual object. Regarding the condition, the structure appears solid and free of lesions, showing a few very small superficial flaws on the body, all well documented in the photographs, while the original Tomobako retains its integrity albeit showing a natural humidity stain due to time and the historical nature of the container.
Tracked shipping.