The Toilet - Bronze 1950-70 By Soko Nakano 1898-1985 #496

This theme refers to the practice of sentō, Japanese public baths. The origin of sentō is Buddhist; because of their religious significance, the baths were located in temples. First used by priests, they were gradually opened to the public. At the end of the Edo period, the shogunate ordered that public baths no longer be mixed, in order to preserve morality. Another reason for the popularity of public baths was the presence of yuna "hot water women", whose job was to scrub the backs of bathers, and more... The Meiji era saw the disappearance of mixed bathing, under the influence of Europeans. After the Second World War, sento reached their peak, because most houses did not have baths. People chatted there while taking care of their bodies. The sento embodied a certain form of Japanese sociability.-- The sculptor: son of a shrine carpenter, younger brother of a sculptor in the region. He received training in sculpture under a high priest Matsuyama. Then moved to Tokyo in 1920. Graduated from the Tokyo School of Fine Arts in 1923. Studied under Seibo Kitamura-Regularly awarded from 1929 to 1940. Member of the Nitten association in 1940. He also created wood carvings on Noh, Kabuki and Buddhist themes. 4.7 kg - Black patina.