Description † INOUE: A SUPERB INLAID BRONZE DISH DEPICTING BOYS ON A DRAGON BOATBy Inoue company of Kyoto, signed Kyoto Inoue seiJapan, late 19th century, Meiji period (1868-1912)The shallow rounded sides rising from a short spreading foot to a gold-inlaid lobed rim with a masterful Komai-style lozenge design, encircling a central medallion finely decorated in iro-e takazogan with three boys dressed in Korean festive garments and standing in a dragon boat in a lotus pond with neatly incised blossoms and furled leaves, detailed in katakiri, all below a long-tailed ho-o bird in flight. One boy is standing in the back, holding a long staff with reishi terminal, beside a flag waving in the wind, above a second boy dancing and holding a drumstick and fan, wearing a peacock-feathered hat, the third boy standing behind the large dragon head holding a trumpet in his hand, all against a rich copper-brown patinated ground. The base with the gilt signature Kyoto INOUE sei [made by Inoue of Kyoto].DIAMETER 27.4 cmWEIGHT 1,234 gCondition: Very good condition with minor wear. Provenance: British collection.