Laura Bordignon

Tel: 01344 872863
Email: laura@laurabordignon.com
Web site: https://www.laurabordignon.co.uk/

Japanese bronze turtle signed Nogami Ryūki Meiji period

SOLD

Code: 10077

Dimensions:

W: 14cm (5.5")H: 3.5cm (1.4")D: 6.5cm (2.6")



Japanese bronze turtle naturalistically modelled with finely carved details, the eyes inlaid in shakudo and rich brown patination signed in an oval reserve Ryūki 龍起, Meiji period 1868-1912.

The turtle (kame 亀) is symbolic of longevity and good luck.

The artist Nogami Ryūki 野上龍起 (1865-1932) was a graduate from the Tokyo School of Fine Art and exhibited several bronze works of turtles at the 1900 Paris Great Exhibition. He studied bronze casting under one of the most notable metal craftsmen of the Meiji era, Oshima Joun 大島如雲 (1858-1940), who was a professor at the Tokyo School of Fine Art.

He worked for the Imperial Household Agency and was mentioned in a 1910 article on metalwork, entitled Japanese Art and Artists of Today. The bronze statue of Kusunoki Masashige near the Imperial Palace and the bronze statue of Saigo Takamori at Ueno Park, both in Tokyo, were also made by Nogami Ryūki.

Reference: 'The Golden Age of Japanese Okimono, the Dr. Kanter Collection' by Laura Bordignon, ACC Woodbridge 2010, Metalwork no. 242.

All our pieces come with a BADA Certificate of Provenance (The British Antiques Dealer's Association) and are inclusive of free worldwide shipping & insurance.