Item Description This is a striking Showa-era abstract sculpture of a wild boar (Inoshishi), the twelfth animal of the Japanese zodiac, created by the noted Takaoka bronze artist Saegusa Sotaro (三枝惣太郎, 1930s–2006). Part of his celebrated "Hanei" (Prosperity) zodiac series produced for Takaoka Doki, the piece reduces the boar's form to smooth, sweeping planes finished in a soft matte green with hand-brushed gold highlighting along the ridges and facets — a modernist, almost Brancusi-like reinterpretation of a traditional folk motif. The artist's small incised seal mark is visible on the underside of the flank. Saegusa was known for stripping animal forms down to essential, sculptural silhouettes rather than depicting them naturalistically, and this boar is a fine, compact example of that style — the curved snout, alert ears, and rounded body are all suggested through pure form rather than surface detail. Size Height: 5.5 cm Width: 8.5 cm Depth: 3.5 cm Weight 165 g / 0.165 kg Condition The sculpture is in good vintage condition with light surface wear consistent with age and gentle handling; the gold highlighting shows some natural rubbing on raised edges, which is typical of this technique and adds to its handcrafted character. Artist Profile Saegusa Sotaro (三枝惣太郎) was a Japanese sculptor born in Kagawa Prefecture. He graduated from the metalwork department of the Kagawa Prefectural School of Crafts and later from the sculpture department of the Tokyo School of Fine Arts (now Tokyo University of the Arts). Over his career he exhibited regularly at the Nitten (Japan Fine Arts Exhibition) and the Kozosha exhibitions, becoming a Nitten associate member, a member of the Japan Sculptors Association, and a professor (later professor emeritus) at Nagoya University of the Arts. He received the Chunichi Award at the Nitten Nagoya exhibition on two occasions. Saegusa is especially well known for his long-running series of Takaoka bronze zodiac ("Eto") figures produced under the "Hanei" (Prosperity) title, prized for their simplified, modernist treatment of traditional animal forms. He passed away in October 2006. 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.