SILVER CIGARETTE CASE WITH ENAMEL DECOR OF PEONIES AND A BIRD JAPAN

An exquisite silver cigarette case of rectangular form with softly rounded corners, executed in the finest traditions of Japanese decorative arts of the early twentieth century. The body is adorned with finely modelled relief decoration enriched with polychrome enamels depicting blooming peonies, a songbird, butterflies, and flowering branches. The obverse presents an elaborate composition centred around a large fully blossomed peony, accompanied by a second flower below and a small bird perched among flowering branches. The reverse is decorated with a more restrained arrangement featuring a blooming peony and two butterflies in flight. The enamel work is rendered in a delicate palette of lilac, white, green, yellow, and blue tones, enhancing the sculptural quality of the relief and lending the composition a painterly elegance. The meticulous treatment of petals, buds, and foliage demonstrates a remarkable level of craftsmanship. In Japanese artistic tradition, the peony is regarded as a symbol of wealth, prosperity, honour, and elevated social status. Birds and butterflies are associated with harmony, joy, longevity, and happiness. Together, these motifs create an auspicious composition characteristic of Japanese decorative arts of the Meiji and Taishō periods. The interior is finely polished and retains its original silk retaining straps. The exceptional quality of the chasing, relief modelling, and enamel decoration places this work among the characteristic examples of Japanese artistic silver from the early twentieth century. Marks: Character mark «純銀» (Jun Gin) meaning “pure silver”; engraved artist’s signature «光一» (Kōichi / Koichi). Dimensions: Length: 8.5 cm; Width: 6.5 cm; Height: 1.5 cm. Weight: 95 g. Condition: Good. Minor traces of age and use consistent with the period. The enamel decoration is well preserved. Light surface scratches and a natural patina of age are present. Provenance: Private European collection.

Estimate:£334.68

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