Item Description Zodiac Ox "Hanei" (Prosperity) – Sculptural Cast Metal Figure by Saegusa Sotaro, Takaoka Dōki This is a striking, highly stylised sculpture of the Ox (Ushi), one of the twelve animals of the Chinese/Japanese zodiac, created by the acclaimed Japanese sculptor Saegusa Sotaro (1911–2006) as part of his well-known "Hanei" (繁栄, meaning "Prosperity" or "Flourishing") series, produced within the centuries-old Takaoka bronzeware (Takaoka Dōki) tradition of Toyama Prefecture. Rather than a naturalistic depiction, the artist has reduced the ox to bold, angular, cubist-inspired planes — a dramatic sweeping arch of a body rising into a compact, faceted head with small stylised horns, balanced on four sharply tapered legs. The surface is finished in a rich verdigris-green patina with reddish-copper highlights breaking through at the edges, giving the piece the weathered, ancient look of aged bronze. The artist's incised seal/signature appears on one flank of the sculpture. Saegusa Sotaro was a respected figure in the Japanese art world — a member of Nitten (the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition), Nihon Chōkoku Kai (Japan Sculptors Association), and professor emeritus at Nagoya University of the Arts. His zodiac series is highly sought after by collectors of Japanese modernist metalwork and Takaoka craftsmanship. The piece is accompanied by its original wooden identification tag (kifuda), hand-inscribed in ink with the title "Hanei" and the artist's name, along with his red seal mark — a lovely touch of provenance and authenticity that Takaoka Dōki pieces are traditionally sold with. A wonderful addition for any collector of Japanese sculpture, mid-century Japanese design, or zodiac-themed art. Size Height: 9.5 cm Width: 4 cm Depth: 13 cm Weight 365 g / 0.365 kg Condition The sculpture is in good pre-owned condition with no major damage; it shows only light, age-appropriate surface wear consistent with careful storage. The accompanying wooden tag is intact and legible. Artist Profile Saegusa Sotaro (1911–2006) was a Japanese sculptor born on Shodoshima Island, Kagawa Prefecture. He studied at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts (now Tokyo University of the Arts), sculpture department, graduating in 1935, where he trained under masters such as Asakura Fumio and Kitamura Seibo. He first exhibited at the Imperial Art Exhibition (Teiten) in 1934 while still a student, and went on to show regularly at Nitten (Japan Fine Arts Exhibition) throughout his career, winning the Chunichi Prize at the Nagoya Nitten exhibition in 1958 and again in 1987. He served as a professor, and later professor emeritus, at Nagoya University of the Arts from 1970 until his retirement in 1986. Beyond fine-art sculpture, Saegusa was also known for decorative works produced through the Takaoka bronzeware industry, including his popular "Hanei" zodiac series, which reinterprets the twelve zodiac animals in a bold, semi-abstract style. NOITICE: The lot will be carefully packaged and sent by Japan Post, DHL or FedEx depending 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 Customs 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 be returned to me, and it will cost more, doubling the shipping fee for reshipping. Thank you for your cooperation.