Antik Dragon Japanese & Other Fine Art has dated this Japanese Meiji Bronze Horse to the 1930s.
The sculpture conveys both dignity and latent power through its harmonious proportions, subtle modelling and realistic anatomy. The stallion is depicted standing four square with its head turned slightly to the right. Rather than relying on dramatic movement, Kōzan captures the nobility of the animal through understated elegance and sculptural confidence, qualities that characterize the finest works of modern Japanese bronze art.
The bronze bears the inscription 東京工廠製 (Tōkyō Kōshō-sei), meaning ‘made at the Tokyo Foundry’, which attests that the work was cast in one of Tokyo’s prestigious state-run industrial foundries, whose technical expertise ranked among the best in Japan during the first half of the 20th century. Raised on an oblong base, it measures 36.5cm x 39cm x 14cm, weight 7.75kg.
Excellent condition and patina.
Sakai Kōzan (酒井公山) was a early 20th-century Japanese bronze artist and the director of the renowned Takaoka Chūgei-sha, one of Japan’s most distinguished bronze workshops located in Takaoka (Toyama prefecture), the historic cradle of bronze casting in Japan for over four centuries. Over the years the workshop (which is still in operation) has built an exceptional reputation, both for its refined artistic bronzes and for its ambitious monumental commissions.
Antik Dragon Japanese & Other Fine Art has dated this Japanese Meiji Bronze Horse to the 1930s.
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Antik Dragon Japanese & Other Fine Art Profile Page
Superb Japanese Vintage (Early 20thc) Bronze Horse, Tokyo Foundry, Sakai Kōzan
