francantolin Posted January 28, 2021 Author Report Posted January 28, 2021 Started quickly without text !! Sorry !! dear members, I wanted to show this bronze statue / maybe an incense burner I just received. Sadly some cracks and the ( what I think was ) the flute is missing I think it's Japanese , maybe Meiji Era, with delicate goldening on the flute player and interesting kind of red ans silver clouds ? and a Moon ? on the animal. First I thought it was a bull or a big cat but now I have it, I think it's a big rat of some kind of fabulous animal , maybe a yokai ? Does anybody know the ''signature'' on the statues and maybe what represent these characters ?? Quote
francantolin Posted January 28, 2021 Author Report Posted January 28, 2021 Mei ? / Signature and a sign on the belly of the character ... Every comment suggestion is welcomed Kind regards Quote
PietroParis Posted January 28, 2021 Report Posted January 28, 2021 It’s a bull. It represents the sixth stage of Zen enlightenment. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Bulls Quote
PietroParis Posted January 28, 2021 Report Posted January 28, 2021 It’s also a classic netsuke subject: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/60459 Quote
francantolin Posted January 29, 2021 Author Report Posted January 29, 2021 Hello, Thank you Pietro for your answer and links-pictures, I totally agree with you for the general shape for the model of the ''statue'' and the massive shape-body of the animal but here the statue has fingers on the paws ( 5 and 4 back ) and no hoofs, strange tail and more importantly, a head ( without horns ) with pointed muzzle and with whiskers/moustache... Seems like a rat/cat on steroîds !! just a fantasy of the maker ?? 1 Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted January 29, 2021 Report Posted January 29, 2021 Pretty sure this is a slightly humorous 金太郎Kintaro, Pietro, showing his mastery over all of the animal kingdom (rolled into one?). The 金 on his bib is the key to the character. 1 Quote
PietroParis Posted January 29, 2021 Report Posted January 29, 2021 OK, the overall composition so obviously recalled the “sixth stage” picture that I must admit I did not even bother to look at the details of the beast. And of course I bow to Piers’ superior knowledge... Quote
PietroParis Posted January 29, 2021 Report Posted January 29, 2021 Could it then be just Kintaro and a bear mimicking the boy and ox of the classic iconography? I noticed that the Japanese depictions of bears are often quite weird... Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted January 29, 2021 Report Posted January 29, 2021 Yes, Pietro, a Japanese meme, I don't see why not. Quote
PietroParis Posted January 29, 2021 Report Posted January 29, 2021 See e.g. this one... https://collections.lacma.org/node/188358 Quote
PietroParis Posted January 29, 2021 Report Posted January 29, 2021 Or maybe it's just the classic Kintaro with a bear, and the missing object is an ax instead of a flute? Quote
francantolin Posted January 29, 2021 Author Report Posted January 29, 2021 Thank you so much for your precious message !! Bugyotsuji, thousand thanks for the translation of the kanji leading to Kintaro !! And yes, surely a bear, find this one of Kintaro and his bear with the same face-expression Kind regards !!!! 1 Quote
francantolin Posted January 29, 2021 Author Report Posted January 29, 2021 Meiji Period ? Maybe later ?? What do you think ? Than you Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted January 30, 2021 Report Posted January 30, 2021 Franco, this is not my area, but I think you are right, Meiji (or possibly later). From his pose, though, the flute possibility remains. Quote
Brian Posted January 30, 2021 Report Posted January 30, 2021 For some reason (no idea why) the pose and gap in his hands made me think of blowing a conch shell. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.