OSHIMOTO SEIJI: AN EXTREMELY FINE AND LARGE PARCEL GILT AND SILVERED BRONZE OKIMONO OF A GOOSE STEPPING ON A FROG

OSHIMOTO SEIJI: AN EXTREMELY FINE AND LARGE PARCEL GILT AND SILVERED BRONZE OKIMONO OF A GOOSE STEPPING ON A FROG
By Oshimoto Seiji, signed Seiji/Kiyoshi
Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)

Naturalistically modeled as a goose with a silvered bronze body, gilt silver beak, and gilt copper feet, looking down with shakudo-inlaid eyes and gilt-rimmed pupils towards the small silvered copper frog it has stepped on, the frog clearly struggling to escape, all on an original, naturalistically carved wood base in the form of a flat, withered tree stump. Note the extremely fine quality of the work, particularly evident in the beautifully carved plumage, liveliness of the composition, and interesting combination of materials.

For the artist see the Khalili Collection, Meiji No Takara – Treasures of Imperial Japan Metalwork Part Two, plate 107, listed as Kiyoshi.

HEIGHT incl. base 31.8 cm
WEIGHT without base 5.3 kg

Condition: Very good condition with minor traces of wear and tiny areas of verdigris here and there. Both legs of the frog are reattached.
Provenance: British collection.