WAKO: A BRONZE OKIMONO OF A SHISHI

WAKO: A BRONZE OKIMONO OF A SHISHI
Signed Wako
Japan, early 20th century, Meiji (1868-1912) or Taisho era (1912-1926)

Massively cast and patinated dark as a muscular Buddhist lion with a large bushy tail and curling mane, raising one paw. Signed underneath WAKO.

HEIGHT 25 cm
WEIGHT 4 kg

Condition: Very good condition, minor surface wear and casting irregularities.
Provenance: Dutch private collection.

This quite unusual composition may have been inspired by the jakoneko (musk cat), often called a shaggy dog, which entered Japan via India, and became popular for its musk, used for perfumes.

Wako is a department store retailing watches, jewelry, giftware in porcelain and precious metals etc. Wako was founded by Kintaro Hattori in 1881 and had shops in Osaka and Tokyo in the Meiji and Taisho periods. Its flagship store is affectionately called Ginza Wako, which is located in the premium shopping Ginza district, central Tokyo.