Shokō 曙光 — 黎明之光：一头强大的铸造青铜公牛 - 黄铜色 - 正晴 Masaharu - 日本 - 1900–2000

Item Description
正晴 Masaharu
This striking cast bronze sculpture depicts a powerful bull standing in a dynamic posture, with one front leg raised as if striding forward. Titled Shokō (曙光 — "Dawn Light"), the work is signed on a wooden tag by the artist Masaharu and presented on a rich dark lacquered wooden base. The masterfully rendered surface captures the musculature and weight of the animal with remarkable realism: the thick neck, broad chest, and tapering hindquarters are rendered with confident, flowing lines that reveal a sculptor deeply attuned to animal anatomy. Finely detailed textures appear in the neck folds, ear ridges, and tail, contrasting beautifully against the smooth, lustrous body. The deep brown patinated finish, characteristic of high-quality Japanese cast bronze (chūdō), creates subtle reflections of warm copper tones across the figure's curves. Created in the tradition of Takaoka bronze casting — Japan's foremost center of bronze craft, responsible for over 90% of the country's bronze production — this piece exemplifies the technical excellence and aesthetic refinement that distinguish Japanese animal sculpture. The bull is a culturally auspicious subject in Japan, associated with steadfastness, prosperity, and good fortune, making this work as meaningful a gift as it is a refined decorative object.

Size
Height: 12.8 cm
Width: 17.5 cm
Depth: 6.5 cm

Weight
1,337 g

Condition
The sculpture is in overall good vintage condition with a beautiful, naturally aged patina; minor surface variations typical of cast bronze are present but there are no chips, cracks, or significant damage.

Artist Profile
The signature on the wooden tag reads Masaharu-zō (正晴造 — "made by Masaharu"), indicating the work of a craftsman-sculptor working in the Japanese cast bronze tradition, most likely associated with the Takaoka bronze industry in Toyama Prefecture. Takaoka has been Japan's leading center of bronze casting since the early Edo period (17th century), and its craftsmen are celebrated for combining traditional lost-wax and sand-casting techniques with refined artistic sensibility. While detailed biographical records of this particular artist have not been confirmed, the quality and signature style of the work are consistent with mid-to-late Shōwa period (1950s–1980s) Takaoka production.

NOITICE:

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