LONDON — Bonhams’ May 14 sale of Fine Japanese Art at New Bond Street will lead with a selection of five rare and exquisitely crafted pieces dating from the Meiji period (1868-1912), ranging from delicate cloisonné to magnificent ironwork.Leading the selection is a fully articulated iron model of a spiny lobster, made by an unknown artisan, estimated at £30,000-40,000. Featuring a body made up of individually cast, hammered and carved sections with fully articulated joints that give it a lifelike, even startling mobility.Other highlights include a cloisonné enamel jar and cover, and a small vase by Namikawa Yasuyuki (1845-1927), one of the Meiji era’s most talented and prolific artisans, estimated at £8,000-12,000 and £12,000-15,000 respectively. The jar depicts three sparrows standing among wild violets on the front and four sparrows in flight on the reverse, while the vase is adorned with all-over stylized motifs of cherry blossoms and roundels on a midnight blue base.Auction interest in Japanese crafts seems to be on the rise. Earlier this year, a popular exhibition of Meiji-era craft titled “Transformation, Summation, Creation” was held at Bonhams New York during Asia Week from March 12-22, showing 22 pieces by critically acclaimed Japanese artisans from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.Follow @ARTINFOJapan
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