CHIKAYOSHI: A GILT AND SILVERED BRONZE OKIMONO OF TWO GEESEBy Chikayoshi, signed Chikayoshi sakuJapan, Meiji period (1868-1912)Finely cast and naturalistically chiseled, each standing, one with its neck lowered and drawn in, the other with its head elegantly raised, looking ahead, the wings spread out. Both with gilt eyes and black pupils, ring-punched and incised feet, and mounted on an associated black-lacquered base. The larger goose signed CHIKAYOSHI saku within a gilt reserve to its behind.HEIGHT 18.5 (the taller goose), WIDTH 30 cm (the base)WEIGHT 1360 g (both geese), 408 g (the stand)Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and casting irregularities, the base with small nicks here and there.Provenance: British private collection.Auction comparison:A closely related but larger okimono of two geese on lacquered wood stand was sold at Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, 16 May 2019, London, lot 198 (sold for 10,062 GBP).