Item Description This is a striking ceramic wild boar figurine created by 三枝惣太郎 Saegusa Sotaro (1906-1985), representing the Year of the Boar (Inoshishi), one of the twelve animals in the Chinese Zodiac calendar. The boar symbolizes courage, determination, and prosperity in Asian cultural traditions. This sculptural piece demonstrates Saegusa's bold and distinctive artistic vision through its geometric, angular interpretation of the wild boar. The work is rendered in a sophisticated silver-gray matte glaze that evokes the appearance of natural stone or metalwork, creating a powerful and contemporary aesthetic. The surface treatment features a fine, textured finish that adds tactile interest and visual depth to the piece. The composition showcases remarkable geometric abstraction, with the boar's body composed of sharp, faceted planes that create a crystalline, almost cubist interpretation of the animal form. The head is rendered with particular attention to detail, featuring simplified but recognizable features including prominent tusks rendered as incised lines, small defined ears, and a characteristic snout. The body is decorated with a distinctive fan-shaped motif suggesting bristles or fur, adding both decorative interest and a reference to the boar's natural characteristics. The figurine stands firmly on four sturdy legs with a robust, compact body that captures the wild boar's powerful and grounded nature. The angular, faceted surfaces create dynamic interplay of light and shadow across the form, giving the sculpture a sense of movement and vitality despite its solid, stable stance. The geometric treatment represents a modernist approach to traditional zodiac imagery, bridging ancient symbolism with mid-century design sensibilities. The piece demonstrates Saegusa's mastery in transforming traditional subject matter through contemporary artistic language. The sophisticated glaze work, precise geometric forms, and balanced proportions combine to create a sculpture that functions both as a cultural artifact and as a significant work of modern Japanese ceramic art. The signature is inscribed on the base, confirming its authenticity. Size Height: 13.5 cm Width: 22.5 cm Depth: 8 cm Weight 1408 g / 1.41 kg Condition The piece is in good vintage condition with minor surface wear and some white spotting on the glaze consistent with age and use. Artist Profile 三枝惣太郎 Saegusa Sotaro (1906-1985) was a renowned Japanese ceramic artist of the Showa period, celebrated for his innovative interpretations of traditional zodiac animals. His works are distinguished by their unique combination of geometric modernism with traditional Japanese pottery techniques and subject matter. Saegusa's zodiac series demonstrates his ability to reimagine ancient cultural symbols through a contemporary artistic lens, creating pieces that resonate with both traditional values and modern aesthetic sensibilities. His works remain highly collectible, valued for their artistic merit and their successful synthesis of East Asian cultural heritage with mid-century modernist design principles. NOTICE: 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.