Vintage Japanese Pierced Brass Lantern

An elaborate vintage Japanese pierced brass lantern cover decorated with floral motifs.

 

The workmanship is detailed and extensive. There are chrysanthemums, artemisia leaves, and scrolling gingko leaves. Brads hold the top to a wooden base. Brads are also used to fasten bands around the mouth to the frame. A smaller screen lines the inside of the mouth. There is a hole in the center of the wooden base.

 

We are conservatively dating the lantern to the first half of the 20th Century; however, the brads appear to be somewhat irregular. This suggests that they were not made using a precision machine, and therefore the entire lantern might be a bit earlier, even Meiji Period.

 

 

9 ¾” (24.8 cm) diameter x 12” (30.5 cm) tall. Weighs 1 lb 13.5 oz (835 g)

 

 

There are no cracks, breaks or repairs. There are a few minor indentations and a couple of the welds that hold the fretwork to the frame are loose. The inset screen band at the mouth is not joined, although that is intentional. There is a reddish stain on one panel and a green spot on one rib. The metal has mellowed with oxidization and age.

 

A great shade to add to a modern lighted fixture, or to use as a luminaria.  It is rich looking because of age and hand workmanship. I can see this shade in many decors from mid-century to arts and crafts.