Wah Ming Chang (American, 1917-2003), Bronze Tabletop Sculpture of an Otter

1973, cast and patinated bronze sculpture of an otter swimming on its back while holding shellfish, signed "W. Chang" and marked "1973 Reg. No." to posterior lower right, with stamped numbers to underside.

2 1/2 x 5 1/2 x 4 7/8 in.

From the Collection of Phoenix Chen Haydon, Raleigh, North Carolina

Wah Ming Chang was born to artist parents in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1917. He began exhibiting etchings and block prints nationally at an early age. Though essentially self-taught, he was the protege of California artist Blanding Sloan.

Chang worked for Disney Studios during the production of Pinocchio and Fantasia, and he designed the masks for film and stage productions of The King and I. He also did special effects and won many awards for several films including Time Machine, Tom Thumb, and Seven Faces of Dr. Lao as well as the television productions of Star Trek and Outer Limits.

Five years after he retired to the Monterey Peninsula in 1970, he was juried into the Carmel Art Association as a sculptor working in bronze, wood, and stone. The chief subjects of his three-dimensional works were animals (both real and fantasy) and figures (both stylized and realistic). Wah Ming Chang passed away on December 22, 2003 in Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Bio courtesy of Carmel Art Association.

Good estate condition.