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Japan an important life-size sculpture of a muscular working man dated to 1939 and entitled “Man and a Cape”, by midcentury master sculptor Koga Tadao (Meiji 36 (1903) to Showa 54 (1979).

A powerful depiction.
Considered to be one of his most important master pieces.

Dimensions: 80 inches high
Base dimensions: 36 inches by 24 inches
Approximate Weight: 650 lbs
Dated on base 1939.
Excellent Garden candidate.

Reference: Catalogue Of Collections- Saga Prefecture Art Museum, 1989, p.205, 39. F-30-4

Provenance: one of three life-size bronze sculptures acquired from a private Japanese garden collection, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture. A similar example stands in front of the Saga Prefecture Art Museum- See Last last Photographs.

Sculptor Artisan: Koga Tadao (1907-1979)

Koga Tadao graduated from the Technical School Arita, then went to Tōkyō and enrolled in the Tōkyō Bijutsu Gakkō the precursor of Tōkyō Geijutsu Daigaku and studied sculpture. In 1929, as a student, a sculpture by him entitled “Buddhist Heart” (仏 心, Busshin) was accepted for the 10th ” Teiten ” exhibition. The following year he graduated from the school. He continued to exhibit in various places. His work “Man on the Cape” (岬 の 男, Misaki no Otoko) at the Shin-Bunten Exhibition 1939 received an honorable mention. His sculpture “Building Greater East Asia” (建つ大東亜, Tatsu Daitōa) received a 1942 Award by the Academy of Arts . His work entitled “Summer work” (夏の作, Natsu no Saku), which he exhibited in the same year, was acquired by the Ministry of Culture.

In 1962 (敗戦から立ち直る日本, Haisen kara tachinaoru Nippon) was erected and in 1964 on the same site Koga’s sculpture “Resurrection of Japan after the lost war”, was installed. In 1964 Koga became chairman of the “Japanese Society of Sculpture” (日本 彫塑 会, Nihon Chōso-kai), and in 1966 he became a member of the Academy of Arts . In 1968 he was highly honored as a director and leading member in the Department of Sculpture of ” Nitten. ” By 1971 he became president of the “Japanese Society of Stone Sculptures” (日本, Nihon Tōchō-kai) and was awarded the Order of Merit.

Koga’s works are known for their distinctive masculine style, though he has created in the last years smaller scale and simplified, empathetic works, such as his series of crows and ducks. On the other hand, there are monumental works by him, such as “Vision of a Forest” (森 の 幻想, Mori no Gensō) – a listening man who was set up in 1973 in his hometown of Saga, and “In Memory of the Cradle of Japanese Medicine “(日本 医学 発 記念 像, Nihon Igaku Hasshō Kinen-zō), which was built the following year in Ōita . The latter shows a doctor treating with assistants at a hospital bed.

In 1994 well after his death, the Saga Prefecture Art Museum (佐賀県立美術館) established a sculpture grove park (古賀忠雄彫刻の森) in Koga’s honor by installing over twenty of his monumental bronze works in Saga Castle Park, the lush gardens surrounding the museum.

This important oversized 84” bronze sculpture created in 1939 “Seaman with Cape” from his earlier period and perhaps one of his finest executed sculptures, is one of only two examples currently known. Of particular note is the “octopus” representation on this sculpture’s back pocket or a tobacco pouch Tobako-ire. The first known example of this sculpture was donated to the same Saga Castle Park Museum and is installed in a place of importance- at the entry to this museum in Saga, Japan. This is the first time this important sculpture has been exhibited in the west, outside of Japan.

Our gallery has been dealing in authentic Japanese, Chinese, and fine Asian art, garden ornaments, lanterns and water basins for 25 years. The president personally travels to Japan and Europe each year to meet his network partners who assist him in finding best examples. He personally inspects each antique work of art to ensure its old age, authenticity and quality condition.

Lifetime guarantee of authenticity: All of our Asian works of art come with our lifetime authenticity guarantee.

We are member of NAJGA- North American Japanese Garden Association.

Price on Request