A PAIR OF BRONZE VASES DEPICTING EGRETSJapan, late 19th century, Meiji period (1868-1912)Each with a peach-shaped body supported on a tall spreading foot and rising to a waisted neck with everted rim, finely decorated in high relief with fine incision work to depict a continuous scene of two egrets, one walking on the ground and the other standing in a stream, with gnarled wood poles sticking out of the water. The depictions are slightly different between the two vases, with one showing one of the egrets preening itself. The bronze patinated to a warm copper tone.HEIGHT 34 cm (each)WEIGHT 2,823 g and 3,074 gCondition: Very good condition with minor wear and casting irregularities.Provenance: German private collection.