Important Bronze Vase With Dragons In High Relief—height: 40 Cm—meiji Period.

JAPAN - Meiji Period (1868–1912).
An important ovoid bronze vase with a small flared neck; its body features a high-relief design of two dragons in clouds streaked with lightning, chasing the sacred pearl, with several details—such as the whiskers and claws—protruding from the bas-relief.
Maker’s mark.
Normal wear on the patina beneath the base; very imposing and decorative.
Dimensions: 40 x 27 x 27 cm.
Notes: In Japanese iconography, the dragon pursuing the sacred pearl, or hōju (宝珠), symbolizes the quest for wisdom, knowledge, and spiritual fulfillment. A celestial creature associated with the forces of nature, water, and life force, the dragon seeks to seize this fabulous pearl, a source of prosperity, protection, and the fulfillment of wishes. This motif, derived from an iconographic tradition of Chinese origin, evokes the search for a higher principle and mastery over cosmic forces.