Winter fattened Sparrows soar through the sky on this ball shaped bronze vase by Naimen Shiho I (Katsuji) enclosed in the original wooden box signed 75 year old Shiho and dated the 7th month of Showa 53 (1978).The feathers of the birds performed in raised relief feature chisseled details in the feathres. The vase itself exhibits an orange peel surface preparation.It is 23 cm (9 inches) diameter, roughly the same height and in excellent condition weighing 3.5 kg (roughly 8 pounds).
Naimen Shiho I (Katsuji, (1904-1987) studied metalwork under Ichioka Shiun from the age of 15 establishing his own workshop in 1925.His work was first publicly exhibited at the 1930 National Shokoten.Two years later he would be awarded at the Belgium World Exposition.He remained active throughout the troubled years of the mid-century for which he would receive the order of cultural merit from Takaoka City in 1967.Work by him is held in the Takaoka City Museum. He remained an active promoter of traditional bronze ware until his death in 1987. His son, the second-generation Shiho would study under his father from 1957.He too is much lauded beginning with top prize at the 1974 Takaoka Traditional Craft Exhibition
