Bronze sculpture of an elephant fighting tigers

Description:

Japan, marked ‘Seiya sei’, Meiji period
L. 20,5 cm
A bronze group depicting an elephant fighting two tigers. One tiger is on the elephant’s back, whilst a second is shown beneath its raised front leg. The animals’ bodies are rendered in a naturalistic style, with detailed depictions of skin folds, fur texture and musculature. Dark-patinated bronze, the elephant’s belly with the Seiya four-character mark: せいや製.
Old Southern German private collection - Minimal signs of age