ANDO: A CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL VASE DEPICTING PHEASANTS AND CHRYSANTHEMUMS By the Ando company, signed with the Ando company mark Japan, Nagoya, early 20th century, Meiji (1868-1912) to Taisho period (1912-1926) The broad baluster body supported on a short spreading foot and rising to a waisted neck with flared rim, the sides finely decorated in bright enamels with two pheasants on a rocky outcrop, a stream running between them, amid large leafy chrysanthemums, daisies, and other flowers, all against a deep-blue ground, with floral diapered bands below the rim and above the foot. The rims of silver, the foot rim with a two-character mark `jungin` (pure silver), and the base with the Ando company mark. HEIGHT 24.2 cm (excl. stand) WEIGHT 1,100 g (excl. stand) Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear and minimal manufacturing irregularities. Provenance: From the collection of Vice-Admiral Reginald Vesey Holt, CB, DSO, MVO, and thence by descent. The vase was gifted to Vice-Admiral Holt by Admiral Koshiro Oikawa, the Japanese Naval Minister during World War II, as commemorated by the silver plaque on the wood stand. The wood stand further with remnants of an original Ando company label to the base. Koshiro Oikawa (1883-1958) was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy and Naval Minister during World War II. Oikawa was appointed as Minister of the Navy in the second and third cabinets of Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe between 5 September 1940 and 18 October 1941. While Navy Minister, he strove to maintain ties with the United States, and instructed his naval attachés in Washington DC to work together with the Japanese ambassador to prevent war from breaking out. He continued to serve as Naval Councilor until near the end of World War II and was Chief of the Navy General Staff in late 1944 but resigned in May 1945. Vice-Admiral Reginald Vesey Holt, CB, DSO, MVO, (1884-1957) was an officer in the Royal Navy. He commanded a considerable number of destroyers and torpedo craft during World War I. Holt was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 15 December, 1939. He was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 4 May, 1940. With a finely carved and openworked wood stand, fitted with a silver commemorative plaque inscribed, `Vice-Admiral R.B. [sic] Holt. January 1940. From K. Oikawa, Admiral I. J. Navy`, and incised with a symbol of an anchor and prunus blossom . Auction comparison: Compare a closely related cloisonné vase by the Ando workshop, dated Taisho period (1912-1926), 30.8 cm high, at Bonhams, Fine Japanese and Korean Works of Art, 18 March 2015, New York, lot 3166 ( sold for 3,250 USD ).