Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries

I bought this bronze statue at an estate sale. It is 12.5" (32cm) tall, 10" (15.5cm) wide, and weighs 15.2 pounds(6.9kg). It has this mark on the back and "JAPAN" stamped on the bottom. Can anyone tell me about it? When made, by whom, and who or what the statue is portraying? Thank you for any help.

I'll defer on trying to make sense of the cursive mark, but the bronze is of Fūjin (風神) or Futen, the Shinto God of the Winds.

Best regards,

Bill H.

It's a Noh Play actor in the dress of a Shinto priest. If you look up Fūjin, in reference to Bill's incorrect suggestion, you'll see that he's portrayed as a demon, so this is not Fūjin. Your bronze is a common form still produced today as a high-end tourist piece. They've been making them for upwards of a century, but the styles differ slightly from pure bronze to copper and mixed metals. Even the new ones of mixed metal design can run in the hundreds of dollars depending on size and quality. It should have a detachable Noh mask that attaches to the face, so I don't know if you have it or if it went missing. If it's missing the value is greatly diminished. You often find multiple ones on eBay at any given time just by using the key words "Japanese bronze" to do a search.

Hell, Joe. Looks like I gotta stop hanging with the bimbos and find myself a better-read mama-san for cultural advisor! Any suggestions?
Bill H.

Well, Bill, you can try Shirley MacLaine. She made a good geisha in a not-so-good movie.

IMO the maker's mark reads Shuzan (秀山).

Guy.

Hi All,

We have this statue from a long time and I have no idea what is it, but it is similar to the one you have

Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries |