Posted 3 years ago
kwqd
(1122 items)
This Japanese cast iron cow okimono by Saegusa Sotaro is 6.7" long x 3.75" high x 2.75" wide weighs 2.1 lbs. I cannot find a maker's mark on it, but the surface is pretty convoluted. Another example of this masterwork by SS was also not marked but came with a tomobako and documentation. They were probably not signed because they are masterworks. Mine is missing its tomobako and documentation. Until I found the boxed example, I did not know who made mine, but knew it was by an accomplished metal artist.
My set was found at an antiques auction in Tajimi in Gifu, Japan. I think that there may be some gold gilt applied to the finish. This is one of a pair, from an auction seller in Japan. The pair was probably made to commemorate the Zodiac year of the Cow. This is the larger of the pair so probably the bull. I did a separate post for each cow since they are fairly complex. Age unknown.
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/298887-japanese-cast-iron-cow-okimono-1
Note that the finish on these two cows is the same as on another unmarked piece in my collection by SS, which I suspect is also a masterwork.
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/311068-cast-iron-sotaro-saegusa-monkeys
Fabulous pair, they're wonderful
Thanks for your comments, Jenni!
Thanks for your comment, Eileen!
Thanks for loving my cow okimono Alfie21, Thomas, Watchsearcher, Eileen, Kevin and Jenni!
Thank you dav2no1 and blunderbuss2!
Thanks fortapache and modfather!
Thanks for loving my cow okimono aura!
Yes I can see, her certainly has a thicker build than the cow and dare I say it a 'bull-neck' XD so yes, I think he's the bull alright. Both their poses are very realistic and the lovely gold colour really suits them. Again, I imagine them in late 19th Century farmyard scenes...
Thanks for your comments, LaurenRedmond!
Thanks for loving my moo makers mikelv85 and LaurenRedmond!
Thank you mikelv85!
Thanks for loving my cow okimono Karen and Cisum! It really bugs me that I can't find who made it. I am trying to not have a cow!
I have finally been able to prove that this set is the work of Saegusa Sotaro. I had been leaning toward Keiten Takahashi as the artist but recently found an identical set in a signed wooden tomobako with documentation by Saegusa Sotaro. Based on that, I think my set are masterworks which lost their tomobako.