The Meiji Restoration in 1868 marked the beginning of a period of radical change in Japanese society. With the dissolution of the samurai class in the 1870s, demand for sword fittings and blades dwindled and metalworkers turned their skill to the creation of decorative objects. This production ranged from finely carved and gilded bronze vases and dishes to lifelike ornamental figures (okimono). In the midst of the sweeping reforms of the Meiji period, Western fascination for Japan grew as the country opened its borders to global trade. Japonisme patrons drove the foreign demand for Japanese works of art, including export ceramics such as the iconic Satsuma ware. Through a wide-ranging sample of fine Meiji ceramics, bronze and enamel works, the group of Property from a Private London Collection (lots 450 – 461) provides a glimpse into this pivotal period of Japanese art history.