Vintage Japanese Bronze Vase — Dragon Handles & Phoenix

A work of exceptional Japanese metalcraft, this Takaoka bronze commemorative vase bears the “Kobe Bisoh” corporate mark, produced to celebrate the company’s 50th anniversary. The baluster form is cast in bronze with a striking two-tone patinated finish — a rich russet-brown body with vibrant green verdigris highlights that accentuate the intricate relief work. Dramatic dragon handles flank the vessel, while an embossed phoenix (Ho-oh) relief adorns the body —mythological imagery that speaks of power, prosperity, and renewal in the archaic Takaoka-Doki tradition. Handcrafted, signed, and weighing 1.15kg, this is a distinguished piece of Japanese decorative art from the 1980s.