Pair of Japanese Meiji Mix-metal Bronze Usubatas
Flower arrangement vases with gold, copper and silver inlays. Each vase has 3 parts, removable handles, and a removable wide top. Each top is decorated with a scene of cranes, clouds and symbolic silver inlays over sides. All handles are finely cast in a shape of ho-birds and are inlaid with silver and gold over their tails. There are gold and silver inlays of cranes on front of the usubatas. The opposite sides are finely decorated with gold and silver inlaid relieves with rocks, copper and silver inlays over bushes with flower blossoms, and a pair of birds on each usubata. The lower part of each usubata has kirins and floral decorations which are made from copper, silver and gold. The bases have gold and silver designs. The usubatas are in excellent condition with no dings, no dents, no losses, no missing inlays, with an original greenish-brown patina. 15 5/8″ tall each x 9″ D.