Meiji Period Bronze Vase w/ Elephant Head Handles
Updated August 18, 2026
| Lot number | 153 |
| Estimate | 200.00 - 300.00 USD |
| Category | Fine Art & Prints |
| Auction | AUGUST AUCTION |
| Date | August 22, 2026 at 12:00 PM EDT |
| Auction house | Big Shanty Auction |
| Location | Marietta, Georgia |
Japanese bronze vase, likely Meiji period, late 19th to early 20th century, of tall baluster form with a dramatically flared, faceted neck and richly modeled sculptural decoration. The rounded body is embellished in relief with flowering branches and a bird in flight, while the shoulders are mounted with elaborate elephant-head handles, each modeled with curled ears, expressive facial features, tusks, and a long downward-curving trunk; this photograph provides a particularly clear view of the finely cast handle detail. The vase is elevated on ornate elephant-form supports above a circular pedestal decorated with scrolling botanical motifs, giving the piece an unusually architectural and highly decorative presence. Comparable Meiji bronzes are known with combinations of bird-and-flower decoration, elephant-mask handles, and tripod supports, supporting the period attribution. The bronze retains an appealing warm brown patina with darker toning in recessed areas, together with expected rubbing, oxidation, scratches, surface discoloration, and general age-related wear; openings visible through the vessel and base suggest a former adaptation for use as a lamp or mounted decorative fixture. No maker’s signature is visible in the supplied photographs. Measures 13.5"H x 6"W x 5.5"D.
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