A set of bronze Incense Burners in the shape of a cock and hen formerly in possession of the Taisho Emperor gifted to the Lady in Waiting Takakura Toshiko following a year of mourning as per custom in 1927. Rendered in a darkly patinated bronze of remarkable depth and vitality, the pair depicts a proud cock standing alert beside a reclining hen, each modeled with extraordinary naturalism and precision. The feathers are individually carved and chiseled, layered to convey the softness and iridescence of plumage, while the combs, wattles, and feet are treated with a stippled texture reminiscent of fine nanako metalwork. Their eyes are inlaid with gold, giving a life-like gleam that animates their watchful expressions. The rooster is 18 x 11 x 34 cm, the hen 20.5 x 10.5 x 11 cm (7-1/4 x 4-1/4 x 13-1/4 inches and 8 x 4 x 4-1/4 inches respectively). The set is in excellent condition, enclosed in the original wooden box with matching lacquer table and comes accompanied with a Mokuroku record of the gifting enclosed. The rooster and hen, long symbols of conjugal harmony, vigilance, and prosperity, were traditional auspicious motifs within the Imperial Household. Presented as part of an onshi set that also included items listed below, this bronze pair reflects the exceptional artistry commissioned for the Imperial court in the late Meiji and Taisho eras. Their provenance—documented as a posthumous Imperial gift from the late Emperor Taisho—endows them not only with aesthetic distinction but also with the quiet dignity of personal remembrance within the circle of the court.
The document (mokuroku) accompanying the set states: Bronze Incense Burner in the Form of a Pair of Cockerels (Male and Female) Attached: Former Lady-in-Waiting Takakura Toshiko; Minister of the Imperial Household Ichiki Kitokuro According to the attached inventory of the late Emperor Taisho’s personal effects, it has been respectfully conveyed that, by Imperial command, the following items were graciously bestowed. Reported on April 14, 1927 (Shōwa 2) by Minister of the Imperial Household Ichiki Kitokurō to Former Lady-in-Waiting Takakura Toshiko. Items: 1. Paulownia wood cosmetic box with chrysanthemum motif — 1 item 2. Celadon flower vase — 1 item 3. Bronze incense burner in the form of a pair of roosters — 1 item 4. Fujiwara-style lacquer table inlaid with mother-of-pearl — 1 item Imperial Household Ministry
