Japanese Art Nouveau bronze and brass table with dragonfly, 1920s

This table reflects the Japanese Art Nouveau movement of the 1920s, made of bronze and brass with hand-chiselled floral engravings across the surface. The top is shaped like an oval tray, with the edge moulded in a continuous wavy pattern reminiscent of moving water, and two rolled handles at the ends. A dragonfly sits in relief near one edge of the surface, with its wings and body raised above the engraved floral and foliage motifs on the bronze plane. Below the top, three curved legs rise and cross near the centre before splaying outward, with a texture reminiscent of tree branches or roots, joined halfway up by a set of cast metal flowers and vines forming a small interior support. The organic silhouette and imagery of water and insects are typical of the naturalistic language that Japanese metalworkers incorporated into Art Nouveau design at this time, often intended for export to European markets. With the size of a side or occasional table, it is suitable next to an armchair, at the end of a sofa, or as a decorative piece in an entrance hall, where its sculptural base and engraved surface can be appreciated up close. The combination of bronze and brass gives a warm, layered tone to both the tray and the legs.