A PAIR OF JAPANESE BRONZE VASESMEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURYThe baluster-shaped bodies decorated with birds in flight and others perched on branches of flowering chrysanthemum and magnolia, with bands of formal designs and lappets enclosing flowerheads applied to the neck and shoulder, both 37cm. (2) Provenance: from the collection of Sir Thomas Jackson, 1st Baronet (1841-1915). Sir Thomas was involved in the creation of HSBC and was appointed third Chief Manager of the bank in 1876. He lived in Shanghai and Yokohama in the late 19th c. and his statue still stands today in Statue Square, Hong Kong, in front of HSBC's headquarters.