Bronze Vase with Arabesque Pattern

The first Noten (Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce exhibition of design and applied arts) in 1913 aimed to promote industry, elevate crafts to an art form, and contribute to the advancement of design in crafts. This exhibition was a vital cornerstone for the crafts community in the Taisho era (1912–26), as crafts had been omitted from the Bunten (exhibition sponsored by the Ministry of Education). This vase, shown in the fourth exhibition and winning second prize, was not only a significant achievement for Tsuda Shinobu, but also aptly embodies the crafts of its era. The vase is adorned with intricate and continuously linked patterns known as arabesques. It was donated to the museum by the late Kitazume Hideo, director of Metal Art Museum Hikarinotani in Inzai City, Chiba, upon that museum’s closure. The museum opened on October 23, 1995, the 120th anniversary of Tsuda’s birth, a gesture which Mr. Kitazume stated was intended to advance public recognition of this marvelous artist. (N.R.)