Japanese silvered bronze egret signed Masatsune Meiji period

Japanese silvered bronze egret naturalistically modelled standing on one leg while perched on a gnarled tree trunk, details in shakudo and gilt and featherwork finely carved signed in a rectangular gilt plaque Masatsune chū 政常鋳 (cast by Masatsune), Meiji period 1868-1912.

The artist Masatsune 政常 was very accomplished in birds subjects.

For other bronze birds by this artist see: 'The Golden Age of Japanese Okimono, the Dr. Kanter Collection' by Laura Bordignon, ACC Woodbridge 2010, Metalwork no. 248.

'Meiji no Takara 明治の宝 Treasures of Imperial Japan, the D. Khalili Collection', Metalwork part II, no. 104-105.

Dimensions of the egret without rootwood base: H 33cm (13" in.) x W 27cm (10.5" in.).