Tsuda Eiju (津田永寿), 1915–2001

A Bronze Flower Vase (銅製花瓶)

Showa Era (1926-1989) 

About the work

A refined and dignified bronze flower vase by Tsuda Eiju, one of Japan’s notable 20th-century metal artists and a prominent figure in the continuation of classical bronze artistry. This piece embodies the harmonious blend of sculptural presence and functional elegance that defines Tsuda’s work.

The vase rises with a gentle vertical swell, tapering into a narrow mouth with a soft outward flare. Its surface bears a deep, lustrous brown patina with subtle marbling, exuding both age and restraint. Minimalist in ornamentation yet rich in material expression, it offers an understated platform for ikebana or stands alone as a sculptural object of contemplative beauty. The base is signed with the artist's mark.

Dimensions

18.8cm(h) x 12.5cm(w)

Footnote

Tsuda Eiju (1915–2001) was a leading Japanese bronze artist and the pupil and artistic successor of Tsuda Shinobu (1875–1946). Eiju exhibited widely throughout his life, including participation in the prestigious 1940 special exhibition commemorating the 2600th anniversary of the Japanese imperial line. He was frequently selected for the Nitten (Japan Fine Arts Exhibition) and received the Grand Prize in 1962. His work represents a continuity of classical Meiji and Taishō-era metalwork refined into a modern idiom, and he remains respected for maintaining the dignified traditions of Japanese bronze art well into the postwar era.