Japanese Brass Match Safe with Repousse Falcon
April 2013 Auction by Far East Asian Art

This wonderful brass Japanese match-safe in unusual form was made in repousse with designs of birds beneath a full moon and clouds. Meiji/Taisho period. Both sides feature a kestral or falcon (“taka”) sitting on the thick branch of a tree with leaves and berries, possibly a grapevine. Above the kestral hangs a huge full moon emerging from small, whispy clouds. Two smaller birds appear in flight near the moon...