Large Japanese Articulate Bronze Praying Mantis Jizai Yasunosuke Ryubundo VI

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A bronze Japanese okimono cast in refined and realistic form of a praying mantis attributed to by Ryubundo Yasunosuke VI … Read more A bronze Japanese okimono cast in refined and realistic form of a praying mantis attributed to by Ryubundo Yasunosuke VI (1840-1921), a sixth generation of the Yasunosuke family active in Meiji and Taisho period.
The insect was cast in a highly realistic fashion with anatomical details to the finest point. It features a segmented body with articulated wing that moves and flips up. All limbs are articulated on the second joints and can be positioned differently. As an ornamental display item, this type of item is known in Japanese as Jizai Okimono. Realistic casted with biological details such as the veins on the wings and textured husks on the lags, the piece is signed "Yasunosuke" under the belly as shown.
The metal okimono became popular in Meiji period, especially Jizai, the articulate animal figure that was painstakingly crafted, often by metal artists who made weaponry for Shoguns and Samurai, whose lineages were traced to pre-Edo period. As an ornamental display item, this type of small sculpture with articulated parts is known in Japanese as Jizai (meaning free moving). They became popular in late Edo to Meiji period. Due to the declined demand of the weapons starting in the peaceful Edo period under the Shogunate, many metalwork families including Ryubundo lineage switched from making weaponry to bronze artwork including statues and smaller okimono. They transferred their skills in metal work into a new art form that ultimately attracted the attention of the west audience as well.
The Ryubundo lineage spanned eight generations, operating from the end of the Edo period until 1958. It was founded by Ryubundo Yasunosuke I (Shikata Yasunosuke, 1786–1841). Ryubundo Yasunosuke VI (Mizoguchi Kihei, 1840–1921) was the most prominent master of the Meiji and Taisho eras. He is particularly celebrated for his intricate bronze work and articulated figures.
This is a wonderful large example with the finest details we have seen.
For a similar earlier praying mantis in the collection of British Museum with Museum see item number 1981,0808.249 See less