JAPAN, Meiji period, Inoue production workshops in Kyoto - Lot 182

JAPAN, Meiji period, Inoue production workshops in Kyoto Elegant bronze box in the form of a Buddhist temple bell. The outer wall is decorated with hira-zogan and taka-zogan inlays of gilded copper, shibuichi, silver and suaka, and is chased in relief with a sinuous dragon chasing a flaming pearl. The domed lid is decorated with a phoenix and a branch of paulownias, and the small handle takes the form of two chimera heads. Signed "InoueZo" (井上造) in a cartouche below. Height:13.5 cm (Slight wear to the opening) Note: During the Meiji period, Japanese silversmiths and bronzeworkers began producing decorative objects inspired by the great bells of Buddhist temples. These creations, although reinterpreting the shapes and proportions of the originals, were not intended for liturgical use in Japan, but were designed to appeal to the growing Western taste for Far Eastern arts and beliefs. Renowned workshops, such as those of Inoue, exemplified this period of creativity and technical virtuosity. Craftsmen developed remarkable skills in working with bronze and patinas, combining traditional casting and chasing processes with ornamental research adapted to the international market. These workshops produced pieces of great finesse, often enriched with decorative motifs linked to the classical repertoire, evoking a mythical Japan in keeping with the Western imagination of the 19th century. Comparison: A bell model produced by the Inoue workshops sold at Bonhams, September 12, 2018 sale in New-York, lot n°5, another presented at Christie's, November 17, 1999 sale in London, lot 135. Expert: Cabinet Gauchet Asian Art