Item Description(1 tiger, 1 dog): 1 Zodiac Tiger — Gold-Glitter Art Casting by Saegusa Sotaro A striking small sculpture of a roaring tiger, one figure from a Japanese "Twelve Zodiac Animals" series, created by the respected Nitten-affiliated sculptor Saegusa Sotaro. Cast in a bold, angular, almost cubist style rather than a naturalistic pose, the tiger stands on four splayed legs with its head thrown back and mouth open in a roar, tail extended for balance — a modernist take on a traditional subject. The entire surface is finished in a rich gold lacquer flecked with sparkling gold glitter, giving the piece a glamorous, jewel-like shimmer that catches the light from every angle. The figure sits on a black felt-covered wooden base, beside an upright ivory-toned wooden nameplate hand-inscribed "彫刻家 三枝惣太郎作" ("by sculptor Saegusa Sotaro") and stamped with the artist's red seal. The piece is further accompanied by a printed card giving the artist's full biography and career history, adding provenance and collectible value. A charming decorative object for a collector of Japanese zodiac art, mid-century sculpture, or work by Nitten-exhibiting artists. Size Height: 5.5 cm Width: 9.5 cm Depth: 2.5 cm Weight 169 g / 0.169 kg Condition Pre-owned with light general wear consistent with age; the gold-glitter finish is well preserved overall, with a couple of loose threads visible on the felt base. 1 item of Zodiac Dog— Gold-Glitter Art Casting by Saegusa Sotaro A striking abstract-style cast zodiac figure of a dog (戌 – "Inu") by the celebrated Japanese sculptor Saegusa Sotaro, a Nitten (Japan Fine Arts Exhibition) associate sculptor born on Shodo-shima Island, Kagawa Prefecture, in 1911. Trained at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts under masters Fumio Asakura and Seibo Kitamura, Saegusa later became a professor at Nagoya University of Arts and was celebrated for his distinctive series of stylized zodiac animals — sculptures that fuse Art Deco simplicity with modernist abstraction. This piece captures the dog with elegant, minimalist lines: an arched back, pointed upright tail, alert pricked ears, and long tapering legs that give the work a sense of poised, dynamic movement despite its compact size. The gold-bronze patinated surface catches the light beautifully across its faceted planes, showing the sculptor's confident, economical modeling technique. The base of the leg bears the artist's engraved seal/signature. The piece is displayed on a black lacquered wooden base, beside the artist's ivory-toned nameplate inscribed "日展彫刻家 三枝惣太郎作" ("Nitten sculptor, work by Saegusa Sotaro"), confirming provenance and authenticity. A wonderful addition for any collector of 20th-century Japanese sculpture, zodiac art, or Showa-era decorative metalwork. Size Height: 7.5 cm Width: 7 cm Depth: 3.5 cm Weight 200 g / 0.2 kg Condition Good vintage condition with light surface wear consistent with age and handling; no major damage, chips, or losses noted in the photographs. Artist Profile Saegusa Sotaro (三枝惣太郎, 1911–2006) was a Japanese sculptor born on Shodoshima Island, Kagawa Prefecture. He graduated from the metalwork course of Kagawa Prefectural Craft School in 1930 and from the Sculpture Department of the Tokyo School of Fine Arts (now Tokyo University of the Arts) in 1935. From 1934 he exhibited annually at the Bunten/Nitten exhibitions, and from 1934 also at the Kozosha exhibition (painting division), later becoming a member of Shin-Kozosha. He served as professor at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Nagoya University of the Arts, from 1970 until his retirement in 1986, and received the Chunichi Prize at the Nitten Nagoya exhibition in both 1958 and 1987. In 1993 he won the Tokyo Governor's Award and in 1999 the Minister of Education Encouragement Prize. He was a friend member of Nitten and a member of the Japan Sculptors Association and the Japan Artists League. He passed away in October 2006. 　 NOITICE: The item will be carefully packaged and shipped by Japan Post or DHL, depending on the situation. Due to the changes to the EU tax-free (VAT) system, Japan Post has become unable to ship certain goods valued at €150 or less to an increasing number of European countries. Depending on the destination and circumstances, the shipping method may therefore be changed from Japan Post to DHL. Delivery normally takes approximately 3 weeks, or up to 3 months if the item is shipped by sea. 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