[MR] Networking Artifacts

[Marc]

Hi All,

So my speciality is "not" Japanese.
Recently I came into the possession of a late 
19th Century "Yuusen-shippo"  Cloisonné "Koro" (Temple Incense burner)
As we proceed through the research on this item, 
the regular avenues(Auction Houses) are pushing 
towards sales based information where I want to 
dig deeper.  At this time we have some 
certainties...such as the origin of the piece 
during the Meiji Period(1868-1912).
We "believe" the piece may have been an early 
product of the Inaba Company, founded by Former 
Samurai Inaba Isshin in 1886.  If this is true, 
then the piece may well have been created by the former Samurai himself!

The Koro is done in shades of brown, rust, a 
burnt yellow and green and the enamel has a 
speckled appearance. The body has rust colored 
shields with goldstone and this background 
surrounds a Ho-Ho bird.  The alternating shields, 
which depict a dragon, have a speckled rust/beige 
background. Near the shoulder of the Koro is a 
highly decorated burnt yellow speckled band with 
a flower design and this serves as the background 
for small cartouches that have either a central butterfly or flower.

So what I am hoping to find here is someone who 
has more of a collector's eye on this than the 
"seller's eyes" I have access to.

Anyone out there specialize in Japanese artifacts?

Lord Mithgiladan the Herald