122 - A MONUMENTAL (65 CM) AND POWERFULLY CARVED STAINED WOOD FIGURE OF A TIGER

A MONUMENTAL (65 CM) AND POWERFULLY CARVED STAINED WOOD FIGURE OF A TIGER Japan, 19 th century, late Edo (1615-1868) to early Meiji period (1868-1912) Powerfully carved from a massive, solid block of wood, the long, dramatically curling tail constructed from three separately carved sections, joined together and anchored into the back of the sculpture. The tiger seated upright on its powerful haunches, its muscular forelegs planted firmly before it, the enormous head with small rounded ears, heavy brows, bulging eyes, a broad nose, and a fiercely snarling mouth exposing four curved fangs. The robust body is boldly worked in high and low relief, with alternating raised ridges and deeply carved, undulating stripes of flame-like fur extending across the shoulders, flanks, and powerful limbs. The surface is stained a deep, lustrous black, with the warm reddish-brown coloring of the wood shimmering through the raised areas and contrasting with the darker recesses, lending remarkable depth, movement, and vitality to the richly textured fur. The massive paws are finely detailed with sharp claws, while the sweeping tail further enhances the dynamic sculptural composition. HEIGHT 63.5 cm, LENGTH 65 cm WEIGHT 53 kg Provenance: Ex-collection of Drs. Edmund and Julie Lewis, Chicago, Illinois. Drs. Edmund and Julie Lewis, internationally recognized experts in nephrology, assembled a distinguished collection of Japanese lacquer art, painting, and Buddhist sculpture. Known for their keen scholarship and discerning aesthetic standards, the couple spent decades acquiring exceptional works from leading dealers, gradually expanding their collection to encompass important religious sculpture from across Asia. Condition: Very good condition with expected wear, natural age cracks, scattered small chips, encrustations, and light rubbing to the stained surface. Overall presenting impressively. The tiger (tora) is the third animal of the Asian zodiac and symbolizes courage, resilience, and strength. It also serves as a traditional counterpart to the dragon (tatsu), the two representing complementary forces. As tigers were not native to Japan, Japanese artists traditionally relied on Chinese paintings, imported tiger skins, and inherited pictorial conventions for their representations of the animal. This gave rise to a distinctive artistic tradition in which the tiger was frequently portrayed with exaggerated features, boldly patterned fur, and an almost fantastical expression. The present sculpture stands at a fascinating crossroads between Edo-period tradition and Meiji-period artistic ambition. While its commanding scale and extraordinary physical presence evoke the monumental aspirations of Meiji sculpture, its artistic conception remains unmistakably rooted in the earlier tradition. Rather than pursuing the anatomical naturalism increasingly favored by Meiji-period animal sculptors, the artist transforms the tiger into an almost mythical embodiment of power and ferocity. Museum comparison: Compare a related monumental Edo-period tiger carved in lacquered and gilt wood, dated to the 18 th-19th century, measuring 88 cm in height and 137 cm in length, in the Musée Cernuschi, Paris, museum no. M.C. 2162.