Bronze figure of a Kagura dancer
Japan
Meiji period, 1868-1912
Bronze
Height approx. 24 cm
Signature "Unrai" in silver-inlaid seal script
The excellently crafted bronze shows a Shinto priest wearing a mask in a snapshot of the moment of movement during the ceremonial Kagura dance, as the left arm thrown back allows the overlong sleeves of his robe to briefly wrap around the back of his head.
Kagura performances serve to appease and entertain the kami, the Shinto gods, and have been practised since time immemorial. During the early Meiji period, Shinto and Buddhism were separated in Japan, with the former being favoured for patriotic reasons. It was in this environment that first-class bronze sculptures of Shinto subjects for secular use were created, whereas bronze had previously been largely reserved for Buddhist rituals.
István Sovánka
Liptószentmiklós 1858 - 1944 Sepsibükszád
Vase with Ducks
Art Nouveau
Hungary
Circa 1900/10
Light green glass with dark green-violet overlay
Height 21 cm, diameter 19 cm
Signed Sovánka
István Sovánka studied at the woodcarving school in Zayugroc under János Fadrusz from 1875 to 1880, after which he worked in the studio of György Zala. He learnt the craft of glassmaking at the glass factory in Zayugroc and worked there as a designer from 1881 to 1904. He created multi-layered, etched glass objects. His work reflects both Hungarian Historicism and Art Nouveau. From 1904, he worked in Újantalvölgy in Gömör County in the factory of the United Hungarian Glassworks Ltd.
István Sovánka was the only glassmaker in Hungary who worked in the Zayugróc glass factory in the 19th century using Gallé's technique.
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