Meiji period (1868-1912), a very large floor sculpture that may have served as a fountain with usubata ikebana style jardiniere enveloped by a large dragon, its head overreaching the side, a smaller dragon encircles the bottom, appears unmarked. Grand sized bronze sculptures like this one were typically produced for the World's Fairs and Expositions in America and Europe to showcase the incredible bronze casting ability and artistic expression of the Japanese to the world. It also may have been equipped as a fountain and resided at a Buddhist temple in Japan or Japanese garden elsewhere.

42 1/2 x 44 in.

Private Collection, Durham, North Carolina

Patina to bronze from outdoor placement and exposure; some repairs to dragon, namely the shoulder of right arm and seam of lower right leg; some areas of discoloration or possible restoration to underside of the jardiniere; some breaks losses to scales.