"Rats Eating Pumpkin" Okimono by Itsumin

This finely cast bronze okimono depicts five playful mice gathered around a pumpkin. One mouse peers from within an the chewed pumpkin, while the others climb and explore the naturalistic composition. The contrasting patinas, with dark bronze mice set against warm brown pumpkins and rich red pomegranates, create visual depth and charm. Executed with exceptional detail and lifelike modelling, the sculpture captures the curiosity and energy of the animals, exemplifying the refined craftsmanship of Japanese Meiji-period bronze art. The surface has wonderful colour and detail and is signed in Japanese script ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Height: 17 cm Condition: Excellent Original Condition Circa: 1910 Materials: Bronze SKU: 9622 ABOUT Itsumin , Japanese late 19th/early 20th C - was a Japanese bronze artist associated with the late Meiji and Taishō periods, a time when Japanese metalwork achieved international acclaim for its exceptional craftsmanship and artistic refinement. Working within the tradition of okimono—decorative sculptures created for display—Itsumin specialised in finely modelled bronze studies of animals and birds, subjects that were highly prized by both Japanese and Western collectors. His works are characterised by meticulous attention to naturalistic detail, capturing the movement, texture, and character of his subjects with remarkable accuracy. Like many skilled Japanese bronze artists of the period, Itsumin employed sophisticated casting techniques and carefully applied patinas to enhance the realism and visual appeal of his sculptures. Produced during an era when Japanese decorative arts were gaining worldwide recognition through international exhibitions and export markets, bronze okimono by artists such as Itsumin exemplify the fusion of traditional Japanese craftsmanship with artistic innovation. Today, his bronzes remain sought after by collectors for their quality, decorative appeal, and representation of the golden age of Japanese metalwork. Japanese Okimono Okimono is a Japanese term meaning “ornament for display; objet d’art; decorative object”, typically displayed in a tokonoma “alcove” or butsudan “Buddhist altar”.The Japanese okimono compounds oku “put; place; set; lay out; assign; station; leave” and mono “thing; object; article”. The Oxford English Dictionary defines the loanword okimono, “A standing ornament or figure, especially one put in a guest room of a house”, and records the first usage in 1886 by William Anderson. Japanese okimono may be a small Japanese carving, similar to, but larger than netsuke. Unlike netsuke, which had a specific purpose, Japanese okimono were purely decorative and were displayed in the tokonoma. During the Meiji period many Japanese okimono were made for export to the west.