A JAPANESE BRONZE OKIMONO OF THE SHOGUN'S HORSE BY THE MARUKI COMPANY

A JAPANESE BRONZE OKIMONO OF THE SHOGUN'S HORSE BY THE MARUKI COMPANY

MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY

Naturalistically cast, the stallion is depicted standing four-square and with its head slightly uplifted, the tack realistically modelled and embellished with the Tokugawa mon, a seal mark underneath reading Maruki sachu seisaku (manufactured at the Maruki Company), together with the lid of the original tomobako wood box with an inscription reading Rogata chudo sei, Shogun no shunme, Zuisei zo (Cast bronze made in lost wax, a horse of the Shogun, made by Zuisei), with a red seal mark for Zuisei, 33cm. (2)

Provenance: an English private collection, Somerset, purchased in Japan.