Tiger sculpture; Japan, Meiji period - Taish?, 1852-1912.

Tiger sculpture; Japan, Meiji period - Taish?, 1852-1912.
Patinated bronze and glass eyes. With root wood base.
Measurements:33 x 72 x 17 cm; 57 x 80 x 37 cm (with stand).
Japanese tiger made in patinated bronze with a reddish brown tone, enriched with glass eyes that enhance its realism. The piece is signed and retains its original base, made of root wood. The Meiji period (1868-1912) and the subsequent Taish? period (1912-1926) were periods of great transformation in Japan, marked by modernization and openness to the West, without abandoning the rich local artistic tradition. In the sculptural field, this period was characterized by technical excellence and an interest in combining realism and expressiveness, especially in bronze pieces that reflected animals or natural motifs.
The tiger, a symbol of power, courage and protection in Japanese and Oriental culture, is represented here with great dynamism and detail, emphasizing both its muscularity and its threatening expression.