Request | help identifying a Bronze japanese lantern or resource

Hello All!

Sorry to trouble you, but I'm seeking assistance, or a point in the right direction of a resource/contact whose research specialises in bronze lanterns of Japan.

I'm trying to surprise a friend with some information on the background of an object he owns. He does alot for persons in the area and I think it would be good to return the favour by making him happy with some information.

Now for some backstory, the lantern was purchased on or around 1920-1930 (by an ancestor), and they are unable to trace any paperwork from the original purchase. It's been in the family since then and they've expressed a curiosity about it's origin.

Unfortunately, it was painted a few years ago by someone that thought it looked "old" and didn't understand it was to be kept that way.

What I'm hoping to be able to find out is;

• A region of origin in Japan
• Who was the manufacturing company?
• Exactly how old is it?
• What is this particular lantern's history?
• Would it be worth having it professionally restored?
• Who could carry out a restoration to a professional standard

I'm located in the Caribbean if that helps. It's currently kept out of the elements in a covered area.

Thanks for your time. I hope you will respond.

Chris

 

Hey, Chris! You'll want to go back and repost your photographs as Full Image so they're easier for everyone to see. Easy to do. After clicking on Upload a File and Choose File, select Full Image instead of Thumbnail. See the difference?

Debora

 

Oop! Thanks Debora

 

All new members do the same thing. Not a problem.

Debora

 

very nice......are there any markings under the base ??

 

https://lens.google.com/search?ep=g...WbWMwNXBYM3AxVm1GWlRWVk1Ta1ZOWm5SNFp3PT0iXQ==

 

I was surprised to see so many new-ish old Japanese lamps for sale online and believe most are not very old. I have taken a detail of the decorative bronze portion of an older one and a detail of yours to show you that the burrs left on what appears to be a cast portion of your lamp - does not have the quality of detail that an older lamp would have. It appears someone has painted yours with gold paint too.

 

Not that I've been able to make out. The internal casting is still quite rough. The information I've been able to find so far is that unless it was for an important family or special donation, that these don't usually carry a maker's mark.

That's correct, the entire lantern was painted black/gold a few years ago, the patina still exists underneath as it wasn't a professional paintjob.
Despite combing through photos I've not been able to find any other examples that share similar characteristics so I can narrow it down to an approximate time (best guess is that it was made in the early 1920's and sold shortly thereafter?)
'Old' is a relative term, In Japanese terms 100 years is hardly a drop in the bucket. But you're right, a few persons I've come across have also mentioned that the firesack casting is surprisingly rough in parts for a typical example.

I've wondered if there were botched restoration attempts, as the overall balance of the piece is a little strange (the warbi-te/fiddleheads and finial seem a little oversized?), but the owner says that's been how it was for as long as he's known it (50+years)

It's all a bit of a mystery, which is partly why I'm so keen to get to the bottom of it.

Thanks

 

Welcome to Antiquers, @serendipity7530 . I hope there are more comments to further help with your questions. It's very kind and generous of you to want to give information to your friend who helps others.

 

If I would place it at as old as 1930, the smooth, slick finial heads that curl upwards and the oversized post ball topper would make more sense as art deco in style, even for Japanese origin, although the black part of the top looks newer than this style to my eyes. It's possible the gold part is merely a primitive reconstruction of what was supposed to be there to start with but went missing. The bottom part actually does appear to be older, but is that a seam mark that runs through the rectangular (dragon?) panel on the side? None of that bodes well in my mind for a restoration. It looks like more harm than good could be done. Just my humble opinion.

Have you tried a magnet on the gold painted part yet?

 

Re: bottom part dragon, it does appear to be a seam mark by the look of it. this was also pointed out as unusual by a japanese friend of mine.

That's an interesting question about the firesack, I've never thought to put a magnet on that part. The upper and lower portion (now black) I'm 99% sure are definitely bronze and non magnetic.

I wish there was a registry of lanterns so that I could compare some of the distinctive features to have some direction.

Thanks!