Meiji Japanese Bronze Jardinière Japanese People on a Boat, Genryusai Seiya Zo

Product Description

A masterpiece, rare, 19th Century Japanese bronze Jardinière/centerpiece of a group of Japanese travelers on a boat, signed on the bottom, Genryusai Seiya zo (made by Genryusai Seiya). This is the rarest and most impressive piece done by Genryusai Seiya. This is most probably his masterpiece and one of the most salient pieces he ever produced. After Five Generations in this business, we have never seen another jardinière by Genryusai Seiya in this particular model/subject. The jardinière rests on a round base in the form of flowing water, which is significant to the upper rounded vessel portion which depicts a boat. The boat is most probably riding on the Great Lake Biwa, which is noted as the largest ancient freshwater lake in Japan. The lake is thought to be approximately 4 million years old and holds great significance to culture, literature, and the environment of Japan.

The Jardinière is made up of one continuous patinated bronze cast with very high and low relief subjects. The passengers of this boat range from a elderly fisherman, to a woman with her child, to woman in a kimono, and many more. Each ultra-high relief figure is hand-chiseled with the utmost quality and detail, no other piece can compare in perfection. The faces, hands, hair, and objects each person holds are so perfectly constructed that they seem absolutely real.

Fine Japanese art is known to be top-quality, but this piece is exceptional, with the most impressive dark black patina over an illustrious extremally well developed bronze body. Each person on the jardinière has a story, each is on the boat for a particular reason heading to an important place. Genryusai Seiya created this piece to spark the creative expression of anyone who sees it. The individuals each share a different life, which is presented differently to anyone that views it. This creative inspiration that is evoked person to person demonstrates how prolific Genryusai Seiya is as an artist. His works are truly perfect and this is piece the culmination to all this masterpieces. A picture speaks a thousand words, but a piece of art in bronze has an endless amount of stories to be told. The Japanese are known as a people of excellence, mannerism, creativity, and perfection. This piece encompasses all those ideas and more.
Japan, Circa: late 1800’s – early 1900’s.

Height: 14.5 in (36.83 cm)
Diameter: 21.5 in (54.61 cm)