花瓶 - Bronze, 竜と鳳凰、饕餮紋 - Japan (No reserve price)

elegant bronze vase (hanaire) crafted by the artist Sansei (山晴), a fine example of Takaoka Copperware (Takaoka Doki), the traditional bronze and metal casting craft originating in Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture. Takaoka has been the center of Japanese copperware production for over four hundred years, renowned for its refined casting, patination and finishing techniques that yield sophisticated color effects and elegant forms in cast metal ware.

This vase displays a sophisticated green marble-toned patina across its body, achieved through the careful surface treatment characteristic of Takaoka bronze work. The body is decorated with a taotie (toutetsumon) motif, an ancient mythological mask-like design, rendered here in a restrained yet striking manner across the shoulder of the vase. A pair of twin handles (futatsumimi) in the form of fantastical beast faces flank the neck, lending the piece a sculptural, almost ceremonial quality.

The transition from the neck to the body is gracefully modeled, resulting in a silhouette that balances simplicity with weight and presence. Despite its refined, minimal palette and form, the vase conveys a sense of substantial mass and quiet dignity — equally suited to displaying a floral arrangement or standing alone as a sculptural interior accent, where its deep coloration creates a serene beauty and quiet presence.

Size
Height: 25.7 cm
Width: 16 cm (diameter)
Depth: 16 cm (diameter)
Weight: 2145 g

Condition
The vase is in very good overall condition. As a long-stored piece, it shows some small scratches and minor surface marks not fully visible in photographs, consistent with age and storage.

Artist Profile
Sansei (山晴) is a Japanese metal artist associated with the Takaoka Copperware tradition of Toyama Prefecture. Signed and sealed works by the artist demonstrate a distinctive sculptural sensibility within the classical bronze-casting idiom, combining traditional motifs such as the taotie with a modern, minimalist approach to form and surface color.

NOTICE: Images displaying this artwork inside a room setting are virtually staged to show interior context. The artwork in the render is unedited. Please refer to the written dimensions and direct standalone photos for the definitive size, color, and physical condition of the piece.

NOTICE:
The lot will be carefully packaged and sent by DHL, Japan Post or FedEx.
It takes about 1-2 weeks to receive normally.
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