Antique vase in the form of a censer. Patinated bronze. Japan, XX century

The handles of the vase are made in the form of dragons, which, according to Chinese legends, do not have wings, in northern folklore they are designated as wyverns, dragons with one pair of paws and a pair of wings, rather than their ancestors, who relied on all four paws and had a pair of powerful wings. The lid is marked with the figure of an eagle with open wings. The eagle is a divine representative, a messenger. Many peoples, in particular, the Ainu, had a cult of birds, the human soul was associated with a bird, at the hour of death, a dance was performed to help the soul go to another world. In Japan, it is a symbol of power and strength. The vase rests on stands that imitate bamboo branches. To bamboo - the most touching and respectful attitude, it is a symbol of tenderness and stamina. When there is bamboo in the house, luck, happiness and harmony do not leave it.