Table lamp. Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912).

Table lamp. Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912).
Sculpture in the manner of MIYAO EISUKE (Yokohama, Japan, ca. 1868-1912).
In bronze, gilded and patinated.
Silk tulip.
Measurements: 68 x 27 x 20 cm (without shade); 32 x 52 x 36 cm (shade).

Meiji period table lamp, with sculptural foot. It is a sculpture in patinated and gilded bronze that serves as a structural foot and aesthetic core of the piece. The figure represents a Noh dancer (although it used to be a preferably male dance) or a geisha in full execution of a ritualized dance, as suggested by the arrangement of the arms, open in a cross, with a slight arch that recalls the flapping of a bird, a frequent motif in the Noh theater, where gestures condense symbolic meanings. The sculptural style is close to that of Miyao Eisuke (active in the second half of the 19th century in Yokohama), known for his female figures in bronze of exquisite detail and strong scenic presence. Our piece boasts similar technical refinement, visible in the precise modeling of the face, the meticulous treatment of the hair and the ornamentation of the kimono. The tunic has golden polka dots that emulate palace textile embroidery. The figure holds a fan in her right hand, an object loaded with symbolism in the Japanese performing arts, used both as an extension of the body in dance and as a metaphorical vehicle: the fan can suggest wind, emotions, seasons of the year or gestures of concealment and revelation. The hairstyle, elaborate and exuberant, presents a high bun, which elegantly curves the mane. This type of updo was common for women of high status or performers in formal ceremonies. The sculpture is mounted on a patinated bronze structure that emulates a vegetal pergola.