Period: 20th century
Material: White copper, SilverMark: Signed 元威 (げんえい, Gen'ei) to base
Size: 10.5*10.5*20.5cm (length x breadth x height).
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This handmade Japanese incense burner is signed 元威 to the base and attributed to the late Futagami Tsunetaro, art name Gen'ei, a noted metalworker from Takaoka, one of Japan’s best-known centres for metal casting.
The accompanying certificate presents him as an artist who devoted more than sixty years to casting and modelling, and notes distinctions including recognition by Takaoka City as a holder of traditional craft technique and the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Fifth Class. That gives the piece appeal not only as a decorative object, but as a work connected to an established name in 20th century Japanese metalwork.
