Censer with oni. Meiji era, last third of the 19th century.

Censer with oni. Meiji era, last third of the nineteenth century.
Patinated bronze.
Presents restorations in the handles of the lid (glued).
Measurements: 45 x 19 x 15 cm.

Japanese sculpture in patinated bronze that represents an oni (demon of the Japanese folklore) holding with a hand a censer decorated with reliefs and handles in the shape of flowery branches. On the lid of the censer is a figure of a shishi or guard dog, a protective symbol against evil spirits.

The piece rests on a raised base with curved legs, ornamented with incised motifs of vegetal and geometric inspiration. The surface is finely chiseled and has a uniform dark patina.

A work of great expressiveness and technical quality, typical of the Meiji era (1868-1912), a period in which Japanese bronze artists reached a high degree of refinement in casting and sculptural detail, combining mythological elements with virtuoso craftsmanship.