AKICHIKA: A FINE BRONZE VASE WITH LIZARD PREYING ON A FROG

AKICHIKA: A FINE BRONZE VASE WITH LIZARD PREYING ON A FROG
By Akichika, signed Akichika with dragonfly seal
Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)
The baluster-shaped bronze vase with a circular foot ring, long neck, and flaring rim, patinated to an attractive brown finish with striking mottled streaks of red, carved in relief around the neck with a lizard eyeing a small frog carved to the body of the vase. The details finely worked; the eyes of the lizard are gilt. Signed to the underside AKICHIKA with the characteristic 'dragonfly' seal.
HEIGHT 24.9 cm
WEIGHT 1,317 g
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and few light surface scratches and casting irregularities.
Provenance:
Old Parisian private collection.
Auction comparison:
Compare a closely related bronze vase with a similar design, also signed Akichika and with butterfly seal, at Christie's, Japanese & Korean Art including Arts of the Meiji Period, 15 September 2010, New York, lot 618 (
sold for 8,750 USD
).