GJPaw Auctions is pleased to offer a stylish Japanese cast iron figure depicting a rooster. The rooster is a universal solar symbol across Eurasia, the Near and Middle East and Europe as a bird that heralded the dawn with its crowing and that would dispel evil spirits as the light of day dispelled darkness. Veneration of the rooster in East Asia is particularly widespread, and is best known in Japan and China where the rooster represents the tenth of the twelve animal symbols in the Chinese zodiac. The rooster as funerary and solar symbol in Japan dates back to the Yayoi Period with the introduction of rice in agriculture and during the Kofun Period when haniwa ceramic cocks and chickens were placed on top of tomb mounds. Today, in Japan, roosters are allowed to roam freely and enter Shinto temples, where they are thought of as errand messengers of the gods at the Isonokami Shrine. The white cockerel, in particular, as an auspicious symbol in Japanese Shinto or shrine tradition likely has its origin in Taoist practices that filtered through from the Chinese court during the Tang dynasty and Nara periods. According to Japanese tradition, the rooster gives the morning call to the goddess Amaterasu. She is the goddess of the sun and the universe. Amaterasu means "shining in heaven". The Emperor of Japan is said to be a direct descendant of the goddess. This beautifully evocative decorative cast iron sculpture is an exemplar of the lack of distinction in Japan between 'fine art' and 'decorative art', unlike the West, which since the time of the Renaissance up until post-modernism conceptually theorized differences between the fine arts and the applied arts. It measures 5 inches in width by 2 inches in depth by 4.5 inches in height (12.7 cm by 5.08 by 11.4 cm). It is in very good condition, including rubbing and minor patina wear. It dates probably to the mid-20th century. A superb example of a very distinctive style of Japanese sculpture art, it would make a fine collector’s piece and is guaranteed authentic.

GJPaw Auctions has been in the Art business for over 35 years and is now expanding its operation to eBay. Our goal is to bring the same experience and excitement of collecting that we have been delivering in-person to collectors across the globe at Primitive in Chicago.  Every object we sell online has been carefully hand-selected with special attention to detail, quality, and significance. We ship worldwide. AddGJPaw to Sellers you Follow and please take a moment to look at our other auction items.

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