Presented is an exceptional masterpiece of Meiji-period metalwork, this monumental silver teapot retailed by the esteemed firm Miyamoto stands as a brilliant testament to the pinnacle of late 19th-century Japanese craftsmanship. 

Founded in 1880 by Masaru Miyamoto, the still active firm is a historic and prestigious Japanese silver-maker. Located in the Ginza district, it is well-known as the official purveyor to the Imperial court of Japan.

Unlike commercial exports silver bearing only the firm's mark, this item is elevated by the honored seal mark Miyamoto Kinsei (Reverently Made by Miyamoto)-- reflecting a level of reverence and artistry typically reserved for the Imperial court, elite domestic presentation pieces and high-status commissions. 

The vessel’s compressed ovoid form serves as a gleaming, three-dimensional canvas, utilizing dramatic negative space (yohaku) to mirror the quiet elegance of a traditional hanging silk scroll.

The body is expertly chased in high-relief Takazogan and Uchidashi, depicting classic figures and allegories from traditional Zen philosophy:

One side features the jovial Zen hermit-poet Hanshan (Kanzan) reclining beneath a gnarled coppery pine branch, his flowing shibuichi robes adorned with rich gold-inlaid borders and accents. 

The reverse side illustrates a profound scene, Taming of the Ox, from the famous Zen parable of the Ten Ox-Herding Pictures, depicting a sage herding an ox by a gold-inlaid tether along a riverbank—a celebrated metaphor for the spiritual journey of disciplining the mind to achieve enlightenment. The beast’s hide is meticulously rendered in microscopic hairline chasing (katakiri-bori). 

A dark, patinated shakudō ruyi-cloud border wraps securely around the collar, complemented by a crisp geometric Greek-key pattern encircling the detachable lid.

Imbued with deep cultural narrative, extraordinary multi-metal metallurgy, and unquestionable court-supplier pedigree, this fine teapot represents a rare opportunity for the discerning connoisseur of Japanese decorative arts and antique silver.

Condition report:

The solid silver body retains a luminous mirror finish with light surface wear consistent with its 140-year history. No repair or dents save for minor soft impressions consistent with age. 

The stepped cylindrical finial featuring an original fire-gilded gold surface over a solid copper core, displays localized wear on the top cap where the gold layer has softened to reveal the natural salmon-pink copper underneath (Please see the picture before last for the rubbed gilt on the finial).

Measurements:

7-1/4 x 6-3/8 x 4-1/2 inches 

(18.4 x 16.2 x 11.4 cm)

Weight:

627 Grams

Please see the last picture for a pair of 12" Imperial presentation vases bearing the Miyamoto Kinsei mark highlighted with patinated silver, a far less skill-intensive technique than the mixed metals one used on the present item, (courtesy of Christie's Auction house of London).