c 1868-1912 japanese copper articulated crayfish mei (02/10/2011)...

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c 1868-1912 japanese copper articulated crayfish meiji

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c 1868-1912 japanese copper articulated crayfish meiji

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Sold Date: 02/10/2011
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Ethnic, Folk & Native American Art

c 1868-1912 original meiji period ,The piece measures approximately 7 inches long when fully extended and it depicts a realistic representation of a Japanese articulated study of a crayfish in copper. Each joint of this crayfish is articulated and moves just like the way this sea creature moves on the bottom of the ocean. The ability to use metal and making articulated animals have been born out of Japanese metalwork tradition. Japanese sword smiths and armor craftsmen had lost jobs after Meiji Restoration in 1868 when Samurai class was abolished. Using their highly renowned metalwork skills, these craftsmen began making articulated metal sculptures such as crabs, shrimps and insects and their uncanny resemblance to the counterparts in the nature had attracted many collectors.

The writing at the bottom of the crayfish i believe reads "hiro yoshi." He was one of the most famous Myochin school of artists who created this piece. The Myochin family has long been blacksmiths producing fine quality armors since the 11th century and they are still making metal crafts in Himeji City of Hyogo Prefecture of Japan. When their family ancestors had presented their armor to the Emperor Konoe (1141-54), the emperor was so impressed with the work that he called them Myochin and gave it to the family as their family name meaning "brilliantly executed extraordinarily rare craftsmanship." the eyes and all the joints do articulate and its age dates from about 1868-1912 (late Meiji era in Japan).

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