20th C. Signed Jean Marais Pewter Finished Terracotta Vase of Two Nudes inc Book

Late 19th/Early 20th c., large Japanese Meiji bronze floor urn. The principal decoration on both sides of the vase is rendered in beautiful and strong relief. One side depicts birds, possibly skylarks, in flight and on flowering cherry blossom branches. The opposite side depicts herons wading and alighting on a flowering tree. the upper and lower portions of urn are decorated with repeating arched lozenges detailed with scrolls and flora. The urn is adorned with foo dog handles, unmarked. This is an impressive and beautiful bronze urn. In bronze-working, Meiji period craftsmen were newly empowered to attempt distinctive, innovative, and complex pieces. Makers were influenced less by the West than by China, which had had a relationship with Japan stretching back thousands of years, far further than Japan’s recent association with Western powers. Artistry in bronze-work reached new heights in the Meiji period, as a number of metalworking schools developed, creating intricate pieces including vases, sculptures...

Early 20th century Mangbetu chief's pot, from DR Congo, a distinctive and beautiful anthropomorphic sculpture. This style of terracotta pot m...

Terracotta vase by Jean Marais, 20th century. Terracotta vase by Jean Marais, from the Jean Marais estate, 20th century. H: 45cm, W: 23cm, D: 19cm

Antoine Bofill (Spanish-French, 1875-1925) was a Spanish artist and member of the Animalier movement of the 19th century. Best known for his small, decorative bronze sculptures, Bofi...