Fan-tailed Pigeon

This excellent silvered bronze figure by Nakajima Yasumi represents a type of object from a period of Japanese art that is poorly represented in UK collections. Executed in Art-Deco style the bronze comes with its original tomobako (wooden box) together with excellent documentation in the form of letters and an original invoice which is dated to 26th December 1934. It appears that that this object was made for Mr Fujii Sekido (of the publishing company Bijutsu Nippo-sha) who offered it to a Mr Okada Shoha along with a scroll painting. Mr Fujii points out in his letter that only two versions of this pigeon were ever made and that the other is in the collection of the Emperor (Hirohito) and wa

Sculpture · Japan · 1934. Cast and silvered bronze. By Nakajima, Yasumi. Victoria and Albert Museum, London.