A MASSIVE BRONZE KORO (CENSER) DEPICTING THE STORY OF SHIBA ONKOJapan, late 19th century, late Edo period (1615-1868) to early Meiji period (1868-1912)A large, massively cast, and superbly detailed bronze censer showing the legendary Han Dynasty hero Shiba Onko smashing a large pot which stands on a rock, cascades of water pouring out from the hole, his companion looking on beside him. The censer stands on a rectangular base with four lobed feet, the base decorated with rinzu and reishi motifs.HEIGHT 52 cmWEIGHT 13.7 kgCondition: Very good condition with minor wear, minimal casting flaws, few minuscule nicks, occasional light surface scratches.Provenance: A Danish private collection, purchased from Bruun Rasmussen, 27 January 2011, lot 1545.Auction comparison:Compare a related bronze jar depicting the story of Shiba Onko at Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, 11 May 2010, London, lot 440 (sold for 3,600 GBP).Shiba Onko (Chian/Sima Qian in Chinese) was a famous statesman and historian of the Han Dynasty. This is an episode linked to his childhood, when it was said that Shiba Onko and his companions were watching fish in a huge jar when one of them fell in but whilst the rest of his playmates ran away shrieking, leaving the child to drown, Shiba Onko used a rock to break the jar to drain out the water and set his companion free. This episode was a popular theme among Edo-period artists as a parable of virtuous behavior.