Further info from my colleagues at the Art Gallery, in ca
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Hello,
Further info from my colleagues at the Art Gallery, in case it is of use!
Jenny
Jenny Brown
Assistant Keeper (Industry)
Museums and Galleries
Education, Culture and Sport
Aberdeen Maritime Museum
Shiprow
Aberdeen AB11 5BY
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>>> Victoria Ward 26/01/2010 14:04 >>>
Hi Jenny
It is difficult to tell just from the photograph, but from what I can see in the books I have here in the office I think it is a Japanese bronze piece known as a Koro which is an incense burner. It is however an unusual shape. Koro are usually a squat pumpkin shape here the baluster vase form is rather more Western suggesting it could have been made for export. This might give it a date near the end of the 19th century.
The following is information about the symbols that are featured on the koro.
The Rooster Handles:
The rooster symbol can be found in many cultures of Asia but it happens to be most venerated in Japan. For the Japanese people the rooster is a sacred animal. Therefore it is allowed to roam freely and even enters the Shinto Temples where it is believed according to the Japanese tradition that the rooster gives the morning call to the goddess Amaterasu.
The rooster is meant to exemplify a number of virtues. The comb symbolizes civil merit whereas the spurs are taken as military merit. The fighting ability of the rooster makes it a symbol of courage.
Bamboo:
Uprightness
Prunus (plum blossom):
Longevity
Hope this helps.
Victoria
Victoria Ward
Assistant Keeper (Applied Art)
Museums and Galleries
Education, Culture and Sport
Aberdeen City Council
Aberdeen Art Gallery
Schoolhill
Aberdeen
AB10 1FQ
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Direct Dial: 01224 523710
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