Antique Large Japanese Bronze Elephant Tigers Meiji Period 19th Century

This is a beautiful antique bronze sculpture of a lioness by the renowned French sculptor Louis Riche (1877 - 1947), circa 1910 in date. The sculpture depicts a recumbent lioness r...

This is a fine antique pair of French Grand Tour patinated-bronze sculptures of the Marly Horses, Circa 1850 in date and signed to one base. The original Marly Horses were commissi...

This is a superb vintage patinated bronze group of a hunter holding a fox over his hounds, dating from the late 20th Century. The bronze comprises a central Scottish hunter...

This charming antique Black Forest inkstand dates from circa 1880. Beautifully modelled, hand carved from linden wood, with mother and baby bear on a naturalistically carved rocky outcrop. The inkwells are in the form of a pair of tree trunks with fluted glass wells with carved lids and a useful pen tray in front. Condition: In excellent condition. As an antique item, it shows signs of use commensurate with age, these minor condition issues are mentioned for accuracy and, as seen in the accompanying photographs, the inkstand displays beautifully. Dimensions in cm: Height 15 cm x Width 23 cm x Depth 14 cm Dimensions in inches: Height 6 inches x Width 9 inches x Depth 5 inches History of Black Forest Carving The idea behind the success of Brienz wood carving was quite simple. After a disastrous famine in 1816 in the Brienz area people were forced to find new areas of revenues. Driven by the need to create jobs in the Bernese Oberland, an economically underdeveloped region, the Swiss government encouraged the existing resource of timber industry to liaise with the traditional wooden craftsmanship. It took some time to improve from home requirements to sophisticated designed arts but the process was supported by the rising amount of tourists visiting the region. Christian Fischer and other founders Christian Fischer (1790-1848) started self-taught from simple turneries (carved bowls and other articles of daily use) to unsophisticated regional animals and people. Due to his success and the interest of the tourists, other carvers started also following his idea of carving the pristine naturalism. The Swiss government supported these start-ups with additional training of apprentices at special trade school. Brienz School of Wood Carving In 1884 the "School of Wood Carving, Brienz" was founded. It became an important educational institution to strengthen and develop the artistic backgrounds and exhibit an area of creativity. During the years of war in the 20th century, the demand for wooden sculptures came to rest and led to the re-orientation in areas such as toys and carvings for constructions. Beyond that the Brienz wood carving articles had to face an enormous competition from abroad. The School of Wood Carving had to get through difficult economic times but in the late 1970s wood carving enjoyed a renaissance. A lot of young people searched for elemental jobs and added a new value to school education. Today Brienz School of Wood Carving is combined with the education of turner, basket makers and coopers. The school still claims high-quality standards and follows old principles with regard to future perspectives. Wild animals At all times wild animals fascinate people. The highland around Brienz has large variety of different wild animals. Bears are among the most popular models for carvers. On the one hand bears are easy to cut and on the other hand they have a strong symbolized image. The enthusiasm for bears in art...

A Japanese Meiji Period Bronze Elephant Fighting Tigers By Genryusai Seiya. Genryusai Seiya: Genryusai Seiya was a master craftsman in charge of a workshop which specialised in exp...

This superb Japanese Meiji period bronze study has exceptionally good detailing. It portrays a figure group of a large muscular bull elephant being attacked and fighting with two tig...

Meiji period, depicting an elephant being attacked by two tigers, with Japanese mark on the base. Rendered in impressive naturalistic detail, this charming model dates to the Japa...

Japanese Meiji Genryusai Seiya bronze elephant and tigers, circa 1890. This moving and detailed bronze grouping depicts a savage attack by two viscous...