Pair of vases in baluster form, the left decorated with designs of a sparrow feeding her young a flying insect in a bamboo grove and the right with flying sparrows, of uchidashi or hammered red bronze, cold chiseled and inlaid in gold, silver and shakudo. Signed by the artist on the reverse of each vase with a chiseled signature, Katsuaki Saku or Made by Katsuaki, and with an inlaid gold seal (Katsuaki Kumagaya, born circa late 1880’s – died after 1970). Taisho era, circa 1912 – 1926.

With the tomobako or original box, inscribed on the exterior of the lid: Kumagaya Katsuaki Saku, Dosei Kabin Take Ni Suzume Chokoku Ittsui or Made by Kumagaya Katsuaki, A Pair of Bronze Vases Carved With Bamboo and Sparrows; and on the reverse of the lid signed: Kumagaya Katsuaki, and sealed twice.   A paper label attached to the reverse of the box lid indicates that these vases were ordered and sold by Miyamoto Shoko, a Tokyo commissioning house.

A pupil of Unno Shomin, Katsuaki Kumagaya was a Tokyo metal artist.

Elegant in form, the vases’ intense coloration provides the perfect foil for the black and gold detail of the design.