Sumos Wrestling Bronze Circa 1860-1900 - Meiji Era.

Bronze with a dark brown patina. A very rare model; one other example (lacking its base) is known to exist at the Spurlock Museum (Urbana, Illinois, USA – inv. no. 1999.13.0012). It can be associated with the workshop of Miyao Eisuke, which produced numerous sculptural groups with a very similar aesthetic. A stamp on the underside of the base—partially obscured by grime—appears to read: "cast by... (name undeciphered)." In excellent condition, with no dents or restorations. It features a superb, lustrous, and nuanced patina. Note the fine, detailed chasing of the hair—rendered through hundreds of delicate individual incisions—as well as the contrast between the smooth skin and the folds of flesh and wrinkles. The strained, exaggerated facial expressions are reminiscent of the art of theatrical masks. On the belly of one of the sumo wrestlers, there are fine lines—a byproduct of an archaic casting and plugging technique—which indicate that the piece dates from before the 20th century. Weight: 7 kg. Base: 14.3 x 21.8 x 6 cm. Total height: 37.5 cm. Figures alone: ​​31.5 x 19.5 x 9 cm. Shipping via DHL.