*FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES SHIPPING IS SET FOR EMS TO ALL AVAILABLE DESTINATIONS.
This listing is for an exquisite 19th century antique bronze vase, quite possibly made by the first generation master of the Honma Takusai lineage of bronze artisans from Sado Island. It is hyotan-shaped and cast using the lost-wax method. It has a beautiful patina and the opening is wide enough to fit just a few thin stemmed flowers, although I would be tempted to display it just on its own. The Honma ‘Takusai’ stamp can be found on one side, and it comes with a wooden storage box, however please note that the box is UNSIGNED. In the photos we included a grouping of Takusai stamps belonging to the first generation. The bottom row has red circles indicating an extra small line that the second generation stamps do not have. Also third, fourth etc generations have different stamps to the first two generations. Basically, this vase is either the first or second generation, however research relating to that small extra line suggests that this does indeed belong to the Honma Takusai I (1812-1891).
Honma Takusai I (1812-1891) was a bronze metal caster from the late Edo to Meiji period. He was born as the eldest son of Hara Tokusai, a foundryman from a small village in Echigo, and was called Sadanobu. He took over the family business at a young age, and learned the wax casting technique from Obata Dosai in Edo. In 1824, at the age of 16, he created the first wax cast copper stationery and tea utensils using the wax casting technique. He then handed over the family business to his younger brother, third son Ryosuke, and moved to Sado, where he married into the Honma Rokubei family. There he started a foundry business and began making temple bells, lanterns, vases, stationery, as well as Buddhist altar implements and incense burners. In 1841, he was asked by the Sado magistrate Nakagawa Hidanokami to cast several dozen cannons in Tsuruko, and later, under the tutelage of western scholar Sakuma Shozan, he also began making western-style cannons. After the Meiji Restoration in 1854, the signing of the Treaty of Peace and Amity between the United States, Japan, Great Britain, and Japan, and Russia, meant that there was no need to manufacture cannons, so he devoted himself to creating works of art. He created a mottled finish known as ‘madara murasakido’, and exhibited it at exhibitions both in Japan and abroad. The madara murasaki technique consisted of a method that produces an oxide film with variegated colours. His madara murasaki pieces were highly praised for their dignified beauty and sophisticated craftsmanship, and he received numerous awards at domestic and international exhibitions. Many of his other works, such as temple bells and lanterns, were inscribed with the name ‘Honma Rokubei Fujiwara Sadanobu’, and many small items such as paperweights are unsigned masterpieces. The second Honma Takusai (1846-1904) was born as the eldest son of the first, and was called Teizo. He worked hard to hone his metal casting skills together with his two younger brothers, Tsuchiya Soeki I and Honma Takuma I. His style was elaborate and precise, and it is said that half of the award-winning works of the first generation were actually created by the second generation Takusai. **Fellow sellers, this information was researched by Kominka Zakka and CANNOT be used in your own listings.
Sizes
Box: H.27.9cm (10.9”) x 16.2cm (6.3”) x 13.9cm (5.4”)
Hyotan: H.23.5cm (9.2”) x 12cm (4.7”) from back to front x 9.7cm (3.8”) across
Condition
The copper vase is in very good condition with only minor surface wear. The wooden box is discoloured from age, there are borer holes on the exterior, and there’s a repair on one side. The box is also a little spotty, and it’s splintered on the interior.
THESE ARE SHIPPING ESTIMATES BASED ON THE CURRENT GLOBAL SITUATION
**Germany, France, Greece, Spain, Poland, Austria, Slovakia, Lithuania, Slovenia: NO SHIPPING. Very strict and expensive packaging laws in place and we are not licensed to send products to these countries. We have no plan to register at this time because the process is in some cases very expensive and complicated, plus each country has its own set of regulations and application process.
**USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Norway: EMS Express 7-10 days.
**Asia: EMS Express 3-5 days.
**Central Asia, Middle East, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico: EMS Express 10-15 days.
**Russia: No shipping methods available.
