Japanese Cast Copper Ikebana Vase – signed Hōju (宝珠) – Shōwa period An elegant Japanese cast metal vase intended for ikebana flower arrangement, characterised by its slender neck and softly rounded body. This type of vessel is known in Japan as a kabin, and the elongated vertical form places it within the category of naga-kabin (long ikebana vase) designed for upright floral compositions. The vase measures 28 cm in height, with a maximum diameter of approximately 9 cm, proportions that are particularly well suited to classical vertical arrangements in the Japanese art of flower arranging. The piece is made of cast copper or bronze and finished with a finely controlled reddish-brown mottled patina with subtle darker and greenish nuances. This decorative surface was achieved through a traditional Japanese chemical patination process related to the technique known as niiro, in which the metal is treated in a heated solution containing copper compounds (often referred to as rokushō) in order to develop a stable and aesthetically refined colour. The slightly marbled appearance visible on the surface is typical of mid-20th-century decorative patinas used in Japanese metalwork. The base bears a rectangular cartouche containing the signature 宝珠 (Hōju). The two characters literally mean “precious jewel” or “sacred pearl”, a term associated with the Buddhist cintāmaṇi, the mythical wish-fulfilling jewel symbolising spiritual wealth and enlightenment. Marks of this type are frequently encountered on Japanese bronze vessels and generally indicate the name of a workshop or studio rather than an individual artist. The method of manufacture is consistent with metalwork produced in the well-known bronze-casting centre of Takaoka in Toyama Prefecture, which has been one of Japan’s principal centres for artistic metal casting for more than four centuries. The vase was cast in a mould, the foot subsequently turned and finished after casting, and the signature applied before the final patination process. In ikebana terminology the vase corresponds to the type known as a naga-kabin, a tall vessel particularly suited to upright compositions. Such forms are traditionally associated with the classical practice of the Ikenobō school, the oldest tradition of Japanese flower arrangement, where vertical compositions such as Shōka emphasise elegant linear structure and spatial balance. Vases of this form allow the principal stems to rise freely while maintaining visual harmony between the container and the floral arrangement. Based on its form, the character of the patina and the style of the workshop mark, the vase can most plausibly be dated to the mid-Shōwa period, approximately 1960–1975. Objects of this type were produced in skilled artisan workshops, intended both for practical use in ikebana practice and for the decorative arts market. The piece represents a refined example of mid-20th-century Japanese decorative metalwork, combining traditional symbolism, functional design for flower arrangement and the long-established bronze-casting traditions of Japan.