Antique okimono "Tiger". Made of patinated bronze with detailed details. Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912).

For a long time, tigers were known to the Japanese only from drawings and skins brought to Japan by monks, soldiers and merchants from other countries, but their images have been found since the 7th century. In Japanese culture, the tiger symbolizes strength and power. Also, the tiger is an important attribute for warriors, who had a belief that he carries superhuman strength and courage.

In Japan, such sculptures are called "Okimono" (literally - a thing that is placed). They are designed to be placed in a special tokonoma niche of a traditional Japanese home or on a shelf next to it. Okimono became widespread in Japanese art in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They were distinguished by an extraordinary plot variety: from images of deities, mythological, historical characters to pictures of everyday life and nature.