Antique Meiji Japanese Bronze/Copper Plated Antimony Dish /Tray 19th Century

Description

Antique Meiji Japanese Oval Bronze/Copper Plated Antimony Dish /Tray 19th Century.
Approximate Measurements: 9.75” x 6”
Scene: The Emperor, his Geishas, his Warriors & Advisers with Mt Fuji in the background among the pine trees.
Condition shows wear patterns and time’s toll on this handsome historic bas relief.
People have been making use of antimony’s compounds for thousands of years. We know that one of antimony’s minerals, stibnite (Sb2S3), was used in Egyptian cosmetics four or five thousand years ago as a black eyeliner.
It is likely that the Roman author Pliny used the name stibium in the first century AD. We get the modern element symbol for antimony, Sb, from the word stibium. According to Pliny, the mineral stibnite was found most commonly among silver ores.
But this is a Japanese tray, plate, dish, or whatever you want to call this ornate piece. So let’s discuss its use in the Meiji period as it was used in this piece.
This bronze or copper plated antimony tray depicts an unusually masculine scene. There are no pretty geishas here. A samurai, shogun, or similar powerful man is shielded by the hot sun by a boy with a large parasol. The man is enjoying the beauty of the village and its surrounding ponds and gardens before him.
This piece is in good condition with some substantial wear and tarnish. Check out pics. Although the wear doesn’t seem to impair the imagery and is in all the right places, some May consider it consistent with an object that is over 100 years old. I will leave that up to you.
The Reverse side has a Floral design.
It is footed.
Japanese used antimony as an alloy which easily takes impressions, has a smooth surface, and does not shrink during cooling after casting.