Jarrón japonés de bronce fundido para ikebana, usubata, con relieve aplicado de vid, de finales de Meiji a Taishō

A true usubata, the broad-shouldered bronze vessel of formal ikebana, cast in Japan in the late Meiji or early Taishō period and climbed by a hand-finished budō grapevine. Its stippled body, natural oxidation and Japanese foundry base mark it as a working flower vessel made for ikebana schools and refined homes.

The Piece

The usubata form is defined by a broad shoulder, a gently tapering body and a stable, recessed foot ring, and its proportions mark this as a functional floral vessel rather than a decorative cabinet bronze. It was made for formal flower arrangement, at a scale suited to tabletop or tokonoma display rather than floor placement.

The body was cast in bronze and given an intentionally stippled, tsuchime-inspired surface with chased texture. Over it climbs a budō motif of grapevine, leaves and fruit, modeled separately and applied. The grape clusters show a hand-finished softness rather than crisp mold repetition, and the vines a slight asymmetry that speaks for period work.

Vessels of this kind were produced in the late Meiji and early Taishō years (c. 1890–1925), often by regional foundries making art bronzes for domestic interiors and export, and frequently for ikebana schools and upper-middle households.

Details

• Era: Late Meiji to early Taishō period (c. 1890–1925)
• Origin: Japan
• Material: Cast bronze with applied relief vine elements
• Measurements: Estimated height 18–22 cm (approx. 7–8.5 inches) · Mouth diameter approx. 9–11 cm (estimated from proportion, not measured)
• Object: Usubata ikebana vase (wide-shouldered bronze form)
• Motif: Budō (grapevine with leaves and fruit)
• Technique: Cast body with chased, stippled surface texture; grape clusters and vine modeled separately and applied
• Base: Recessed foot ring; Japanese workshop or decorative foundry mark
• Function: Ikebana display vessel; small-to-mid usubata for tabletop or tokonoma

Condition

• Naturally aged with deep, irregular oxidation in warm brown and umber tones.
• Greenish verdigris appears naturally in the recesses.
• The base mark shows uniform oxidation and casting wear.
• Foot rim wear is consistent with age and handling.

Base Mark Reading

The base carries a central recessed square cartouche framed by geometric seal-style ornamentation, with no legible Japanese kanji. The mark is abstracted, decorative and structural to the mold rather than stamped after casting, and it shows uniform oxidation and casting wear instead of sharp modern stamping.

It is not a Chinese reign mark: Chinese bronze marks typically present raised or sharply incised seal script with clear reign formulas (e.g. 大清, 大明). The surrounding repeating motifs align with Japanese Meiji decorative base patterns used by regional foundries, and this kind of base is frequently seen on Meiji–Taishō usubata vases.

• Japanese workshop mark or decorative foundry base
• Not a Qing or PRC Chinese export mark
• Not a modern laser-cut or acid-etched stamp

Authenticity & Care

Assessed as authentic Japanese cast bronze of the late Meiji to early Taishō period, not a replica: the oxidation, hand-finished applied clusters and casting rule out modern resin or post-1980 Chinese decorative bronze, and no modern manufacturing indicators were observed. Period and origin are stated with conservative scholarly restraint. Every piece is examined and documented in Japan before dispatch and is offered with the Japonista authenticity guarantee.

Delivery from Japan

Packed by hand in Japan and shipped insured and tracked by EMS or an equivalent express service. Import duties and taxes, where applicable, are payable on arrival. Returns follow our published policy.

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