Antique Japanese Meiji Bronze Doves PAIR Fine Vintage Japan Metalwork Old Asian

From a Tucson, Arizona collector's estate. A pair of Japanese bronze dove sculptures from the late Meiji era. The taller one, the one with its head facing backward, measures just under 7 inches in overall length and is 5½ inches high. The second one, with its head and beak pointing downward, measures 7 ½ inches in overall length and is 4 inches in height. The workmanship and artistry is excellent: hand chasing work to depict the feathers; very realistic rendering of the birds in naturalistic poses.

The Meiji Era began in 1868 and lasted until the reign of Emperor Taisho began in 1921. Marks the ending of Japan as a group of feudal states and the beginning of the modern Japanese state. For more than a thousand years, very fine metalwork was required by the Samurai in the adornment of their swords and in the manufacture of lavish armor. Metalwork, especially in bronze, was also required by numerous Buddhist temples and shrines for the production of religious sculpture, incense burners and the like.

These markets for expert metal work disappeared with the ending of the Samurai class and the suppression of Buddhism, both of which were part of the Meiji reforms. Metal artisans turned their talents towards the production of sculptures such as these and other artworks for both the domestic market. The exquisite design and the intricate metalwork of these doves is a testament to the skills of these ancient Japanese artisans. Vintage Sacramento, vintage California, California history, rare book, chicago, Illinois, railroad history, steam locomotive, Chicago history, Antique Chicago, Lionel, Kalo, Steam Engine, Tucson, Oracle, Arizona, Scottsdale, Santa Fe, Maria Marinez, Avayu, Albuquerque, tonita pena, awa tsireh, pablita velare begay turquoise, zuni, navajo sterling, shalako mana, Navajo, San Ildefonso, Nampeyo, Maria Martinez, Acoma, Casas Grandes, Hohokam, Santo Domingo, Apache, Zuni. Zia, Meiji, Satsuma, Canton, Imari, Kyoto, Tokyo, Arita, Kutani, Tsuba, Kakiemon.