Japanese Bronze Signed Kabuki Hideaki (shumei) 株木秀明 – Leopard

Art Deco bronze depicting a leopard. Bronze with its black lacquered wooden display shelf and original "tomobako" wooden box.

After his apprenticeship in Odawara, Soshu (Sagami Province) under Master Yoshihama Shuaki, Hideaki won an award at the 1924 exhibition at the Tokyo Foundry Association. He achieved the first prize gold medal at the Aomori Prefecture Industrial Fair in 1925, the gold medal (first prize) in 1926 at the Yokohama City Industrial Fair, first prize at the Tokyo Craft Exposition of 1929, a bronze prize in the Exhibition of Foundry Association in 1930 and further exhibited at the 1935 Trade Encouragement Association (awarded a certificate of merit) and the 1940 Bunten Celebration.

Circa 1930.