Antique Japanese Bronze Miniature Vase, Basket Weave Floral Design, Meiji Taisho

A charming miniature antique Japanese metal vase, beautifully decorated with an intricate basket-weave texture and raised floral and foliate detailing.

The vase has a rounded body raised on three small feet, a slender tapering neck and an organically shaped flared rim. The surface is particularly attractive, with the metal worked to imitate woven basketry across the body and neck, interspersed with delicate flowering branches and stylised decoration.

This type of simulated basket-work decoration has parallels in Japanese bronze work of the late Meiji and early Taishō periods. I believe this example dates from around the late 19th to early 20th century.

The metal has a very dark, almost black patinated finish with warmer copper-alloy tones visible in areas of natural wear. It is completely non-magnetic. I have conservatively described the material as bronze / patinated copper alloy as there are no visible metal assay marks.

Details:

* Origin: Japan
* Period: Meiji / Taishō, circa 1890–1920
* Material: Patinated bronze / copper alloy
* Height: approx. 9 cm
* Maximum diameter: approx. 4.5 cm
* Weight: approx. 120 g
* Three-footed base
* Basket-weave textured decoration
* Raised floral and foliate motifs
* Unsigned

Condition:
Very good antique condition with age-related surface wear and patination. There is wear to the dark finish in places, particularly around the rim, feet and underside, revealing the warmer metal beneath. Please study all photographs carefully as they form an important part of the description.

A wonderfully tactile little piece of Japanese metalwork and an attractive addition to a collection of Meiji-period decorative arts, Japanese bronzes or miniature antique vases.