Japanese Meiji Period (1868-1912) Silver Dragon Box

About the Item

Hammered Silver Decoration Stamped Jungin Pure Silver 純銀 From our Japanese collection, we are pleased to offer a Japanese Meiji Period Silver Dragon Box. The box of rectangular form cast from solid silver with a hammered exterior across the whole body. The lid of the box decorated with a silver dragon in relief amongst the clouds with accentuated talons and whiskers. A matching dragon in relief floats around the perimeter of the box. The base of the box signed with the Japanese Jungin (pure silver) mark 純銀. The box dates to the early 20th century during the Meiji Period (1868-1912) circa 1895. Meiji Period was an era of Japanese history that spanned from 1868 to 1912. It was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people began to build a paradigm of a modern, industrialised nation state and emergent great power, influenced by Western countries and aesthetics. As a result of radically different ideas, the changes to Japan were profound and it affected the social structure, politics, economy, military, and foreign relations across the board. The period corresponded to the reign of Emperor Meiji and was preceded by the Keio era and was succeeded by the Taisho era. Cultural Art during the Meiji Period was of particular interest to the government and they overhauled the art export market which in turn promoted Japanese arts via various world’s fairs, beginning in Vienna at the world fair in 1873. The government heavily funded the fairs and took an active role organising how Japan’s culture was presented to the world including creating a semi-public company named Kiritsu Kosho Kaisha (First Industrial Manufacturing Company). The Kiritsu Kosho Kaisha was used to promote and commercialise exports of Japanese art and established the Hakurankai Jimukyoku (Exhibition Bureau) to maintain quality standards. For the 1876 Centennial International Exhibition in Philadelphia, the Japanese government created a Centennial Office and sent a special envoy to secure space for the 30,000 items that would be displayed. The Imperial Household also took an active interest in arts and crafts, commissioning works by select artists to be given as gifts for foreign dignitaries further emphasising the high quality and importance of Japanese art. Just before the end of the 19th century in 1890, the Teishitsu Gigeiin (Artist to the Imperial Household) system was created to recognise distinguished artists. These artists were selected for their exceptionally high quality wares and talent in their own industry. Over a period of 54 years Seventy artists were appointed, amongst these were ceramicist Makuzu Kozan and cloisonné enamel artist Namikawa Yasuyuki. Measurements (Centimetres) 6.5cm High x 15.5cm Long x 10cm Deep

Dimensions:

Height: 2.56 in (6.51 cm)Width: 6.1 in (15.5 cm)Depth: 3.94 in (10.01 cm)

Style:

Meiji (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Silver,Cast,Hand-Crafted

Place of Origin:

Japan

Period:

Late 19th Century

Date of Manufacture:

Circa 1895