Glossary
Terms used in our catalogue descriptions, briefly explained.
- Okimono
- A Japanese decorative sculpture, literally a 'placed thing' — an ornament for display in an alcove or on a cabinet, most often in bronze, ivory or wood, and a specialty of the Meiji era.
- Tomobako
- The original fitted wooden box made for a Japanese work of art, frequently inscribed with the title of the piece and signed or sealed by the artist. An important part of a work's documentation.
- Meiji era
- The reign of Emperor Meiji, 1868–1912 — a period of extraordinary technical brilliance in the Japanese decorative arts, when leading workshops produced metalwork and cloisonné of unmatched refinement for international exhibitions.
- Shibuichi
- A Japanese alloy of copper and silver, patinating to subtle grey-brown tones. Prized for sword fittings and later for the inlaid surfaces of Meiji metalwork.
- Shakudō
- An alloy of copper with a small proportion of gold, patinated to a lustrous blue-black. Used with gold and silver inlay to painterly effect in fine Japanese metalwork.
- Patina
- The surface colour and texture a metal object acquires through deliberate chemical treatment and age. Original patina is fragile and precious — it should never be polished away.
- Signature / seal
- Japanese works are commonly signed with chiselled characters or inlaid seals, often naming the artist and studio. Signatures are compared against recorded examples as part of cataloguing.
- Provenance
- The recorded history of a work's ownership — earlier collections, auctions, exhibitions and publications. Documented provenance supports authenticity.
- Attribution
- Qualified language for authorship: 'signed' means the work bears the artist's signature; 'attributed to' expresses a considered but not certain opinion; 'school of' or 'workshop of' indicates production in the artist's circle.
- Bidri ware
- Indian metalwork from Bidar in the Deccan: a blackened zinc alloy inlaid with silver or brass in floral and geometric designs, at its finest in the 17th and 18th centuries.
- Company School
- Indian paintings made for British patrons during the East India Company period, typically watercolours of natural history, trades and topography, blending Indian technique with European taste.
- POA
- 'Price on application' — the price is available on request rather than published. Simply quote the work's stock number when enquiring.
- Condition report
- A written account of a work's physical state: wear, losses, repairs and restoration. We prepare one for any work on request before purchase.