A JAPANESE PARCEL-GILT BRONZE KORO

A JAPANESE PARCEL-GILT BRONZE KORO
MEIJI ERA, 19TH/20TH CENTURY

The rectangular-section body decorated with two panels enclosing an Immortal releasing his soul from his mouth to one side, and birds in a garden to the other; with side handles shaped as mythical creatures and with further shishi heads decorating the corners; on a dense ground of archaic designs; the base with a two-character signature, 27cm.

Provenance: an English private collection, Somerset, purchased in Japan.