Meiji era (1868-1912), late 19th century Each constructed in three separate parts comprising a base, a main body and a rim, of cast, patinated and polished bronze with relief decoration and details in copper, silver and gold, the stepped circular bases carved with rocks in sunken relief, chidori (plovers or dotterels) flying above waves inlaid in flat silver relief, surmounted by three feet in the form of heads of mythological creatures, supporting a smaller circular socketed stand; the rotating bodies (applied with separately cast stylised openwork fruiting leafy handles), each with two complementary figural scenes (two on each vase), one vase depicting a tezuma (magician) conjuring paper butterflies and blowing them with a fan simulating flight on one side and a young Heian courtier standing at the gate of his lover's mansion on the reverse; the second vase depicting a street entertainer blowing shabon-dama (bubbles) beneath willow branches to the delight of a young boy on one side and a noble woman playing the koto on a engawa on the other, the broad rims with cranes flying among autumnal plants and reeds around the outer edges, their upper surfaces with willow branches trailing over a river and the thin inside rims with repeated fragmented shippo-tsunagi (linked-cash) patterns; each vase unsigned. Each vase: 50.7cm (20in) high. (6).