An Important and Rare Japanese Bronze Censer by Miyao Eisuke

Meiji period (1868-1912), circa 1890, an extraordinary cast bronze censer in four parts, signed with artists marks to each section, featuring a large censer with reticulated cloud cover surmounted by a phoenix finial, flanking the sides of the censer body are two dragons with wings outstretched, the censer body is raised on three elephant heads set onto a quatrefoil shaped base that is being lifted by two oni demons showing their strength with defined muscles and facial expressions, they stand on a rocky base that is lifted up with three curled phoenix head feet, with many more fine and meticulous details to discover over this immense bronze masterpiece.


78 in.

Property of a Chapel Hill Gentleman

Purchased by family from the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition in 1893, then by descent.

The Miyao Company of Yokohama was one of the most prolific workshops of the Meiji period and showed their best bronze works at the world fairs that took place at the end of the 19th century.

Overall good condition; with some later screws; one pin is missing; some general rubbing and wear to surface; dirt to surface; a small break with loss to wing of phoenix finial.