Bronze 'Kannon, ' Japan, 1910

Original signed wooden box. Signature reads: Ryohei Saku. Outside of box reads: Ota Ryohei saku. Notes about the artist: Ota Ryohei (often spelled Oota Ryohei), 1913-1997, was born i...

Dark brown patina bronze figure of a standing kappa with its right leg leaning on a cucumber. The figure is put on four-legged rattan-like bronze stand. The kappa (??) is a aquatic creature taken from Japanese folklore having the appearance of an anthropomorphic turtle. His skull is either slightly hollowed out to accommodate water, from which it derives its power, or hidden with a water lily leaf hiding this sag. Naturally polite, it is advisable to bow to him in order that it should do so in return, thus losing all the water he has gathered and leaving it harmless. Kappa has the reputation of attempting to lure both humans and animals into the water. In some areas, it ravages fields, stealing eggplants and cucumbers. Some people prefer to worship it and give it offerings rather than be its victims. Signed Shokaken (???). His real name is Ôshima Yasutarô. He was born in 1849 and is the third generation of a metalworkers family. Together with his brother Ôshima Joun...

This exquisite Japanese bronze mirror, measuring approximately 11 cm in diameter, is a rare and enchanting piece of history. Dating back to the 19th century or earlier, it features a...

Japanese Bronze Okimono grouping of 2 figural long eared rabbits, consisting of a mother rabbit up on her hind legs and her child on all fours. They c...