Antique Japanese MeijiPeriod Mixed Metal Vase with Rooster and Prunus For Sale

This exquisite vase is a classic example of Japanese Meiji period metalwork, characterized by the complex application of mixed metals-often incorporating bronze, silver, copper, and gold-to create intricate pictorial scenes. There is a very small dent on one side, and I have taken great strides to photograph it for transparency. The metal has not been cracked nor broken through. The depiction of a rooster perched on a flowering prunus (plum blossom) branch is a hallmark of the era\'s naturalist aesthetic, symbolizing vitality and the arrival of spring. Such pieces, particularly those associated with workshops like Noboru Nogawa, are highly prized by collectors for their technical mastery and the laborious process of inlaying different metals onto a bronze body. Market value is driven by the complexity of the metal inlay, the overall state of preservation, and the presence of a signature. These vases remain highly desirable for their historical significance as artifacts from Japan\'s opening to the West during the late 19th century.