Japan Meiji Period (1868-1912), Important Bronze Okimono

Important Okimono in bronze with brown patina, representing a peasant sitting cross-legged, preparing his pipe which he holds in one hand, his tabako-ire in the other. Probably a school of Tokyo, fineness of the work, lightness of the cast, precision of the details and expression of the face of very beautiful workmanship. Signature of the artist on the back leg of the peasant.

Provenance: private collection

HISTORY
It was from 1873 onwards, during the Oriental Exhibition on the Champs-Elysées, organised by Cernuschi, that bronze sculptures brought back from his trip to China and Japan were presented to the Parisian public and the impact of private collectors was overwhelming. It was not until the Universal Exhibition of 1878 that Paris was able to get an idea of the Japanese taste. Hayashi was, from then on, with Bing, the most intelligent intermediary between Japan and Paris; they are the ones who revealed the true art of Japan, who formed our taste and we find them at the origin of all our beautiful collections, among which those of the writers Edmont de Goncourt and Emile Zola or painters like James Mc Neill Whistler and Edgar Degas.

Period: 1880
Origin: Japan, Tokyo
Materials : Bronze

Dimensions
Height : 17.71 in
Length : 22.44 in
Depth : 12.20 in