Nicholas Mellors Auctioneers Limited
Lot 488
An exceptionally fine large Japanese bronze vase of tall, slightly tapered form, the shallow neck detailed with butterflies and insects, the body engraved and decorated in high and low relief with flying finch amidst mop head hydrangeas, leafage and blossoms, all in silver, gold, copper and shakudo, stepped circular foot, 47cm high, signed 大日本嘉幸造 Dai-Nihon Kako zo [Made by Kako, Great Japan], the artist Suzuki Chokichi 鈴木長吉(1848-1919), whose art name was Kako 嘉幸., an Imperial Craftsman, Meiji period (converted for electricity and partially drilled through signature, the top bearing three solder points to the upper rim)嘉幸 Kakō (Suzuki Chōkichi鈴木長吉) was born on the 15th of the eighth month of Kaei 1 (1848) and was appointed as the chief of the metal craft division of the Kiryu Kosho Company. He exhibited at many of the inland and international expositions of the time. In Meiji 29 (1896), he was appointed as an Imperial Craftsman (Teishitsu Gigei-in 帝室技芸員). He died on the 20th of January, Taisho 8 (1919), aged 72. In Meiji 28 (1895), he exhibited a bronze Eagle at the Nuremburg Exhibition, Germany. He exhibited at the 1876 Philadelphia, at the 1893 Chicago Columbus, at the 1900 Paris Expositions and won many awards. In Japan, he exhibited at the 1881 Second Inland and 1890 Third Inland Industrial Exhibitions. His works can be found in the Khalili collection.
