Lot 2229: A SILVER MODEL OF AN ELEPHANT AND TIGER By Oshima Joun (1858-1940)

By Oshima Joun (1858-1940)
Cast in silver as an elephant fending of an attacking tiger, the surface cold-chiseled and highly polished to simulate the skin and fur of the animals, the tiger's eyes inlaid in shakudo and silver, and the elephant's in pink gold, signed Oshima Joun, with silver reserve Gin sei (pure silver)

6 1/2 x 11 7/8 x 5 1/2in (16.5 x 30.2 x 14cm)

Oshima was born to a family of metalworkers. He succeeded to the family business in 1877 and adopted the name Joun. By 1879, the business had become so successful that he was able to employ eleven assistants. Much of his work from this period was sold through high-level commissioning houses such as Honda, Sanseisha, and Murakami Heishichi and his work was included in the Paris Exposition of 1900 and the London Japan-British Exposition of 1910. In 1887 he was awarded a professor's chair at the Tokyo School of Fine Art, a position he kept until his retirement in 1932.

This is a rare example of Joun's early work. The subject matter reflects a genre often exhibited at the great international expositions but the workmanship of this model far surpasses most others of this type. Also of note is the fact that Joun works in silver, at the time quite expensive, which also suggests this may have been an exhibition piece.