Description
Young Man Wood Cutting
From our Japanese collection, we are pleased to offer this Japanese Bronze Okimono by Yamamoto Kozan. The Japanese Bronze Sculpture cast in Bronze with a naturalistic textured base having a central figure stood as he takes a break from wood cutting for a drink of water from his double gourd flask. The bronze figure is cast in exceptional form wearing an eboshi hat and loose robe beside a cut woodpile and a patinated axe. The rear of the figure is signed at the lower leg Kozan saku for Yamamoto Kozan. The Japanese Bronze Okimono by Yamamoto Kozan dates to the early 20th century late Meiji period (1868-1912) to the early tashio period (1912-1926).
Yamamoto Kozan
Yamamoto Kozan was the younger brother of the sculptor Yamamoto Junmin (1888-1962). They both are considered to belong to the group of the most prominent and skilful metal workers in early 20th Century. Kozan was a student of the sculptor Okazaki Sessei (1854-1921) and he was a member of the Chukinka Kyokai (Association of Cast Metal Artists).
BRONZE
is an alloy consisting primarily of copper with approximately 12–12.5% tin and often with the addition of other metals (including aluminium, manganese, nickel, or zinc) and sometimes non-metals, such as phosphorus, or metalloids such as arsenic or silicon depending on the age of the bronze and its origin. The additions of other metals produce a range of alloys that are usually harder than copper alone and carry useful properties such as strength. The earliest known use of bronze dates to the 5th millennium BCE from Iranian plateau, the bronze mix consists of arsenical copper and copper-arsenide. The earliest tin-copper-alloy recovered is dated to circa 4650 BCE and was found in Plocnik, Serbia. It is believed to have been smelted from a natural tin-copper ore.
Tashio period 大æ£æ™‚代
was a period in the history of Japan dating from 1912-1926 coinciding with the reign of Emperor Taishio. The new emperor was a sickly man, which prompted the shift in political power from the old oligarchic group of genro (elder statesmen) to the Imperial Diet of Japan and the democratic parties. The era is considered the time of the liberal movement known as Taisho Democracy. Preceded by the Meiji Period and succeeded by the Showa period.
MEIJI PERIOD
was an era of Japanese history that spanned from 1868 to 1912. It was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people began to build a paradigm of a modern, industrialised nation state and emergent great power, influenced by Western countries and aesthetics. As a result of radically different ideas, the changes to Japan were profound and it affected the social structure, politics, economy, military, and foreign relations across the board. The period corresponded to the reign of Emperor Meiji and was preceded by the Keio era and was succeeded by the Taisho era.
Cultural Art during the Meiji Period was of particular interest to the government and they overhauled the art export market which in turn promoted Japanese arts via various world’s fairs, beginning in Vienna at the world fair in 1873. The government heavily funded the fairs and took an active role organising how Japan’s culture was presented to the world including creating a semi-public company named Kiritsu Kosho Kaisha (First Industrial Manufacturing Company). The Kiritsu Kosho Kaisha was used to promote and commercialise exports of Japanese art and established the Hakurankai Jimukyoku (Exhibition Bureau) to maintain quality standards. For the 1876 Centennial International Exhibition in Philadelphia, the Japanese government created a Centennial Office and sent a special envoy to secure space for the 30,000 items that would be displayed. The Imperial Household also took an active interest in arts and crafts, commissioning works by select artists to be given as gifts for foreign dignitaries further emphasising the high quality and importance of Japanese art. Just before the end of the 19th century in 1890, the Teishitsu Gigeiin (Artist to the Imperial Household) system was created to recognise distinguished artists. These artists were selected for their exceptionally high quality wares and talent in their own industry. Over a period of 54 years Seventy artists were appointed, amongst these were ceramicist Makuzu Kozan and cloisonné enamel artist Namikawa Yasuyuki.
MEASUREMENTS
41cm High x 36.5cm Wide x 20.5cm Deep (16.14 x 14.37 x 8 inches)Â
CONDITION
Very Good antique condition
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