Sculpture "Elephant with tigers". Bronze, casting, patina, engraving, ivory. Author: Omori Mitsumoto. Japan, the Meiji period (1868-1912).

This work is a typical example of the Japanese author's sculpture of the Meiji period (1868-1912), created using the technique of casting, followed by engraving and patinating the surface. The work was cast by the traditional horned method (“the form of lost wax”), which was established in the foundry workshops at Buddhist monasteries in the early Middle Ages.

The sculptural group consists of an elephant figure, occupying a central position, and two tigers attacking it. It was a dramatic moment of struggle, when an elephant lifted its left foreleg over the tiger overturned while the other predator jumped on its back. The majestic pose of an elephant, standing on two hind legs, folds on the skin, transmitting each muscle stiffened, twisted by an elastic ring trunk, are distinguished by plastic expressiveness. Special stress composition gives expressive figures of tigers. The figurative solution of the sculpture is complemented by the surface finish of the figures, built on the principle of matching different textures. The matte, graphite-colored elephant skin, spotted with embossed wavy strands of wool, lends naturalness to its powerful figure. Tigers, on the contrary, are shown to be mobile and muscular, which is masterfully emphasized by the brilliance of their hides with characteristic patterns.

There is a cast mark on the elephant's belly, indicating that this sculpture was made by Tokyo master Omori Mitsumoto. It is known that he was born in 1860, and his active creative work falls on the 1890-1900s. Works of the master are found in Japanese auctions, where they have a fairly high cost.

This scene is an allegorical duel between the forces of good and evil. Good represents the elephant - a large and good creature, which, however, at the moment of danger becomes merciless to enemies.