3 - A LARGE (63 CM) AND EXCEPTIONAL BRONZE OKIMONO OF SHOKI RIDING A REARING SHISHI

A LARGE (63 CM) AND EXCEPTIONAL BRONZE OKIMONO OF SHOKI RIDING A REARING SHISHI Japan, 19th century, late Edo (1615–1868) to Meiji period (1868–1912) Superbly cast in several sections, depicting the fierce demon queller Shoki astride a powerful, dramatically rearing shishi. The warrior leans boldly forward, his right arm thrust high above his head with the index finger pointing skyward, while his left hand firmly grasps the reins. His intensely expressive face, with furrowed brows, fierce inlaid eyes, and flowing beard, is framed by windswept hair. He wears elaborate Chinese-style armor and billowing robes, magnificently decorated with the Four Auspicious Creatures (shirei): a writhing dragon rendered in exceptionally fine high relief to the cuirass, and further intricate designs of a kirin, ho-o (phoenix), and a dragon-headed minogame (long-tailed tortoise) delicately incised across the sleeves and swirling skirts. The belt is further embellished with a ferocious beast-mask buckle, recalling archaistic Chinese ornament. The shishi is captured in a magnificent display of movement, its powerful body twisting and rearing, muscular limbs outstretched, and head thrown back in a thunderous roar, revealing sharp fangs and a curling tongue. Its imposing features are framed by deeply modeled, spiraling locks of hair, while the extraordinarily long, flame-like tail sweeps dramatically behind. The finely chased ornamental details and carefully polished surfaces contrast beautifully with the richly patinated, dark bronze, creating a composition of remarkable vitality and sculptural presence. HEIGHT 63.3 cm WEIGHT 14.8 kg (excl. stand), 25.1 kg (incl. stand) Condition: Good condition with expected wear and casting irregularities. Few small nicks and light scratches, one ear replaced in finely carved wood. The figure is assembled from several separately cast sections. The bronze with a smooth, dark-brown patina and scattered malachite encrustations. Presenting exceptionally well. With a fine green marble presentation stand. The striking image of Shoki riding a shishi unites two formidable protectors of East Asian mythology. Derived from the Chinese demon queller Zhong Kui, Shoki was revered in Japan for his power to ward off evil spirits and disease, while the mythical lion similarly embodied strength and protection. Although an unusual subject, this pairing was established in Japanese painting by the late Edo period, notably in Katsushika Hokusai's (1760–1849) Shoki Riding a Shishi Lion of 1844, preserved in the Idemitsu Museum of Arts, Tokyo. An exceptional synthesis of Chinese-inspired grandeur and Japanese craftsmanship, the present bronze combines an imposing guardian lion, elaborate Chinese-style armor, and archaistic beast-mask ornament with distinctly Japanese details and a remarkable sense of movement. The warrior's armor is magnificently adorned with the Four Auspicious Creatures (shirei): a writhing dragon rendered in high relief across the cuirass, and the ho-o (phoenix), kirin, and tortoise delicately incised into the flowing robes. Particularly noteworthy is the tortoise, depicted as a minogame with a long, seaweed-like tail. These auspicious emblems enrich the composition with associations of virtue, longevity, and good fortune. The dramatic upward thrust of Shoki's arm, the shishi's roaring head, and the magnificent sweep of its tail lend the sculpture extraordinary vitality and theatrical force. Auction comparison: For an earlier Chinese stylistic comparison, see a large bronze ‘lion and foreigner’ censer and cover, dated to the Ming dynasty, 14th–15th century, measuring 54 cm in height, at Sotheby's, Chinese Art, 18 September 2024, New York, lot 117 (sold for USD 45,600 or approx. EUR 43,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).