Rare Japanese Meiji period plateau in copper and brass signed Murakami Tor.

Exceptional and very large tray made of mixed Japanese metals, dating from the golden age of Meiji-era silverware (1868-1912). Signature and Origin: Fully signed in the rectangular cartouche: "Dai Nippon Kyoto Murakami Torajiro zo" (大日本京都 村上寅次郎造), which translates to "Great Japan, Kyoto, made by Murakami Torajiro." The Murakami family's workshop was internationally renowned during the Meiji period for the excellence and high technicality of its metal art pieces intended for major exhibitions and export. Iconography and Technique: The central part is adorned with a thick, finely chiseled, engraved, and repoussé red copper plate on a dark patina background (traditional chemical treatment of the alloy). The decoration depicts a very strong traditional landscape composed of Japanese pines (Matsu) and a pair of cranes (Tsuru), ancestral symbols of longevity, prosperity, and marital fidelity. The Border: A true masterpiece of Kyoto craftsmanship. The wide flared rim perfectly imitates woven wicker or bamboo (basketweave), but it is entirely made of metal, through twisting and hand-braiding strips and wires of gilded brass, fixed onto a peripheral core. Dimensions: 45 cm wide × 32 cm high. Weight: 1.5 kg (Heavy, massive, and of high quality). Condition: Beautiful state of antiquity. The tray has retained its superb original patina. Slight traces of natural oxidation.