LATE EDO and POST RESTORATION INTERNATIONAL TRADE

[watsonmil]

During the period following the Restoration ( post Edo ), ... Japan finally opened her doors to the Western World. All through the period of the 1870's thru the 1880's many trade missions, scientific missions, and diplomatic missions entered Japan. It was a period of learning for both the Japanese and the Europeans. Trade in particular was flourishing with the advent of the industrial revolution in Europe, ( the people had disposable cash for luxuries and the exotic ). The Japanese for there part were anxious to adopt all things European/Western. The Europeans had a penchant for Japanese Lacquer wares, and also fell in love with Japanese metal work. One of the very popular items given as gifts to visiting diplomats, ... but equally popular as an export item were the very beautiful Japanese Vases done in porcelain, but especially those done in bronze. So many vases were imported into Europe, ... that the problem of marketing them became somewhat of a problem for the merchants. Some enterprising individual decided to modify some of the vases into something not only decorative, ... but also useful from a practical point. Thus a cottage industry sprung up in Europe, .... converting many Japanese vases into Oil Lamps. Metal bases were made in brass or bronze to accept the base of the Japanese Vases to give them more stability when converted to Lamps. I have noted where these bases were made with several concentric diameters stacked so to speak on top of one another, ... so that the rings could be cut off until the appropriate diameter was reached to fit any vase. Rings to fit the mouth of the vases were made the same way either to fit a particular lamp, or for the less expensive, stacked rings were cast of varying diameters and the workman simply cut the ring from the stack at the correct circumference. A pot to hold the lamp font ( oil reservoir ) was inserted and fastened to the base of the lamp by a long rod inserted from the base of the lamp. This base rod often had a heavy metal weight to add stability to the finished product. Once the font complete with burner was inserted, ... chimney, and globe added, .... the merchant had a most beautiful AND utilitarian item to offer his customer.

 

In my collection are a couple of these export bronze vases. The one has never been modified for a lamp, while the other has been modified, .... and the modifications are of excellent workmanship, ... and result in a VERY beautiful lamp indeed. The size and massive relief carving on this particular vase/lamp as well as the Pawlonia Crest on the bottom make me wonder if this particular vase was a Japanese Shogunal gift to some visiting diplomatic mission personnel of lower rank. Perhaps one of our members might have a view. There is a signature cast into the base plate, ... but the last kanji is not clear. If someone can read this, ... that too would be most welcome.

 

Anyways here are the particulars and dimensions :

 

Material : Bronze heavily carved in relief and deeply cut as a Dragon. In some areas the carving is deeply engraved rather than relief. Some areas are highlighted in gold.

 

Height : The vase before being modified is 12 inches high

 

Diameter : Not counting the high relief dragon is 6 1/2 inches, ... counting the dragon highest point diameter then is 7 3/4 inches.

 

As a lamp the whole stands : 29 1/2 inches from the base to the chimney top.

 

In closing, .... I would just like to add that this is the type of large lamp that would have been found in the home of some European family of means. This was obviously not the type of lamp to be found in a Middle Class Victorian home of the 1860 - 1880 period.

 

Submitted for the enjoyment and study of the NMB membership. ... Ron Watson

[watsonmil]

MORE PHOTOS of VASE converted to LAMP

[cabowen]

The mon shown is actually imperial mon (pawlonia). The tokugawa mon (shogunate) was the aoe leaf...

[watsonmil]

Dear Chris,

You are correct or to be more correct the Government of Japan vis-a-vis ( The Office of the Prime Minister ), ... my error.

... Ron Watson

[Mark Green]

Nice Ron, Thanks for sharing.

Love that patina.

[huntershooter]

Good stuff Ron. I am a fan of carved bronze.

Thank you.

[Baka Gaijin]

Good Morning Ron,

 

I believe that the Kiri Kamon (Paulownia Imperialis) used by the Imperial Offices and later the Office of Prime Minister counts five seven five petals (known as Go Shichi Go no Kiri) not three five three (San Go San no Kiri).

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulownia

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiji_Constitution

 

Much in the same way that the Kiku Kamon counts 16 petals on the Grand shrines, Bank notes & Coinage, Japanese Passport etc but appears frequently with other numbers of petals on more mundane items.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Seal_of_Japan

 

Similar numerical variations are found within the three petal form of the Aoi Kamon used by the Tokugawa Family and its extensions.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokugawa_shogunate

 

I would appreciate a definitive please.

 

(Purely for selfish reasons as I have an item bearing Go Shichi Go no Kiri Kamon). :?

 

Cheers

 

Malcolm

[watsonmil]

Dear Malcolm,

The article was written with the intent of showing an interesting trade/presentation item of the late 19th century, and how the Western world modified at least some of the many thousands of Vases both Porcelain and Bronze that were imported, into utilitarian objects for the Victorian hosehold but still retaining the beauty of the original Japanese workmanship/art. I apologize to the membership if I have gotten the various Pawlownia crests ( mon ) attributed incorrectly. Perhaps someone will offer the correct attribution. I feel bad if I have somehow disseminated poor research with respect to the MON. I should have been more careful in my research in identification before putting pen to paper. ... Ron Watson

[Baka Gaijin]

Hi Ron,

 

I think the more we show, the more we increase our combined knowledge base. The subtleties of design, particularly Japanese design in the immediate Post Edo period are fascinating.

 

The writings of Basil Hall Chamberlain particularly:

 

http://www.archive.org/stream/thingsjap ... 3/mode/2up

 

Chamberlain was there closer to the time and some of his observations are to say the least...Insightful.

 

Cheers

 

Malcolm