Japanese Meiji or Taisho Bronze (Early 20thc) of Ninomiya Sontoku by Hideyama.

1900 - 1920

Sold by Antik Dragon Japanese & Other Fine Art

Description

Japanese Meiji or Taisho (early 20thC) bronze of Ninomiya Sontoku, the famous agricultural leader (see below) depicted as a boy, standing on a naturalistically cast base, reading an incised book, ‘The Great Learning’ (Daigaku), while carrying bundles of brushwood cast in openwork secured by robes on his back, his face neatly detailed. The back is incised with the signature, Hideyama. The bronze measures 31cm (12.2in) high, x 16cm (6.3) x 11cm (4.3in), weight 3.6kg (ca 8lb).

Excellent original condition and nice patina.

Ninomiya Sontoku (1787-1856), born Ninomiya Kinjiro, was a prominent 19th-century Japanese agricultural leader, philosopher, moralist and economist. He lost his parents when he was a boy, but through hard work and diligence, he rebuilt his fallen family at the age of 20. Later, he rebuilt approximately 600 villages and became a shogunate retainer. His ideas and actions were inherited as the Hotokusha Movement.

It is common to see statues of Ninomiya in or in front of Japanese schools, especially elementary schools, which typically depict him as a boy reading a book while walking and carrying firewood on his back. The statues illustrate popular stories that said Ninomiya was reading and studying every moment he could.

Physical Dimensions

Height

31cm (12.20")

Width

16cm (6.30")

Depth

11cm (4.33")

Declaration

Antik Dragon Japanese & Other Fine Art has dated this piece to the 1910s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1021620

Dealers Internal Reference

AD519/23

Description

fig 1. Japanese Meiji or Taisho Bronze (early 20thC) of Ninomiya Sontoku by Hideyama. — fig 1. Japanese Meiji or Taisho Bronze (Early 20thc) of Ninomiya Sontoku by Hideyama.

Excellent original condition and nice patina.

“

Ninomiya Sontoku (1787-1856), born Ninomiya Kinjiro, was a prominent 19th-century Japanese agricultural leader, philosopher, moralist and economist.

Antik Dragon Japanese & Other Fine Art

He lost his parents when he was a boy, but through hard work and diligence, he rebuilt his fallen family at the age of 20. Later, he rebuilt approximately 600 villages and became a shogunate retainer. His ideas and actions were inherited as the Hotokusha Movement.

fig 2. Japanese Meiji or Taisho Bronze (early 20thC) of Ninomiya Sontoku by Hideyama. — fig 2. Japanese Meiji or Taisho Bronze (Early 20thc) of Ninomiya Sontoku by Hideyama.

It is common to see statues of Ninomiya in or in front of Japanese schools, especially elementary schools, which typically depict him as a boy reading a book while walking and carrying firewood on his back. The statues illustrate popular stories that said Ninomiya was reading and studying every moment he could.