19th Century Japanese Meiji Period Bronze Okimono of a Rabbit, Signed 秀山 (Shūzan), Joel & Margaret Chen Collection

Details

Description

A finely cast Japanese bronze okimono depicting a seated rabbit, its head lowered and both forepaws raised to its face. … Read more A finely cast Japanese bronze okimono depicting a seated rabbit, its head lowered and both forepaws raised to its face. The surface is worked throughout with individually incised fur lines rendered with exceptional precision and depth, creating a rich textural contrast between the raised ridges and recessed grooves across the body, haunches, and elongated ears. The patina is a deep reddish-brown with darker toning in the recesses, consistent with a late 19th-century casting of high quality.

Signed to the underside with a molded two-character kanji cartouche reading 秀山 (Shūzan), a Meiji period bronze foundry mark.

The rabbit holds particular significance in Japanese culture as the fourth animal of the zodiac and a symbol of good fortune, longevity, and the moon. Zodiac subjects were among the most sought-after okimono commissions of the Meiji period, when Japanese bronze casting reached its technical and artistic peak.

Provenance: The Joel and Margaret Chen Collection, Los Angeles.
Dimensions: 11¼ h × 9½ w × 5 d in (29 × 24 × 13 cm)
Material: Patinated bronze
Period: Meiji, late 19th century See less