Item Description 村田宏 Murata Hiroshi（1936-） This commanding bronze tiger sculpture is a work by Murata Hiroshi, a distinguished metalwork artist from Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture — one of Japan's foremost centers of traditional bronze casting with over 370 years of history. The piece is recognized as a Takaoka Traditional Craft (Takaoka Dento Kogeihin) and is a certified zodiac ornament (eto okimono) for the Year of the Tiger. Cast in metal with a warm, rich gold finish, the tiger is depicted in an alert, crouching posture with its mouth open in a fierce roar, forelegs planted firmly forward — a pose radiating vitality, courage, and auspicious energy. The surface is covered with finely engraved stripe details that demonstrate the artist's exceptional mastery of casting and decoration technique. Every sinew and claw is rendered with naturalistic precision, reflecting Murata's signature style of refined realism. The artist's signature is engraved directly onto the sculpture itself at the base of the tail, confirming the work's authenticity. The sculpture is presented on a sleek black lacquered display base, and the original artist biography pamphlet is included. This piece is a superb example of postwar Japanese metal sculpture, uniting the technical heritage of Takaoka craftsmanship with a bold, modern sculptural sensibility. It would make a distinguished addition to any collection of Japanese decorative art or zodiac-themed sculpture. Size Height: 9 cm Width: 23 cm Depth: 4.5 cm Weight 588 g Condition The sculpture is in very good condition with no damage, chips, or missing parts; minor surface patina consistent with age and storage is present but does not detract from its appearance. Artist Profile 村田宏 Murata Hiroshi (b. 1936) is a celebrated Japanese metalwork sculptor born and based in Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture, a region renowned for over 370 years of bronze casting tradition. He trained under Murata Yoshio, a councilor of the prestigious Nitten (Nippon Fine Arts Exhibition), where he mastered prototype and mold-making techniques. His works were selected for the Nitten on multiple occasions and for the Japan Contemporary Crafts Exhibition (Nihon Gendai Kogei-ten) from 1964 onward. Murata is particularly admired for his meticulous decorative technique and quiet sculptural restraint, producing works of exceptional refinement. His tiger zodiac sculptures — produced from his own original molds and registered under a utility model patent — are considered among the finest examples of Takaoka traditional bronze craft. NOITICE: The lot will be carefully packaged and sent by Japan Post, DHL or FedEx depend on the situation. It takes about 3 weeks to receive normally. Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Sometimes Customes or delivery company in your country contact you for Customs clearance via phone or email. Please make sure that you could answer the phone. If you don't, the parcel will return to me and it cost more double shipping fee for reshipping. I appreciate your cooperation.