Posted 2 years ago
kwqd
(1122 items)
This cast iron zodiac okimono by Sotaro Saegusa is about 5" high x 3" wide x 4" deep and weighs 2 lbs 8 ounces. It is unmarked but came with a small plaque and wood display stand. There was no tomobako or box. Not sure if it is a master work, or not. I suspect not. May or may not be by Saegusa. Could be a studio piece made by his craftsmen. The small monkey is not removable, though I can see a gap completely around it, and I suspect this was molded as one piece. Pretty nice work, whoever made it.
It was in really rough shape, rusted through the finish in places and with a fine coat of rust over the whole surface which hid most of the red accent coloring. I actually did not realize that it had red in the finish. A lot of the damage is around the head and face but the entire piece is affected. It has cleaned up much better than expected but considerable work remains to finish cleaning and stabilizing it. I did not think that I would be able save so much of the original finish.
I knew it was corroded or rusty when I bought it, composition uncertain. I did not know if it was bronze or cast iron. I would have preferred bronze, but I do not have any experience cleaning bronze but do have some experience cleaning up cast iron, so it was perhaps for the best that it is not bronze. So, good enough to show, now, but I hope that it will eventually look better.
Due to the condition, I offered less than asking price, but probably could have gotten it for even less if I realized how bad the condition was. Been looking for a monkey. Now only need the boar, rabbit and dragon to complete my SS zodiac collection.
Fabulous monkeys! This is my fave of your zodiac animals Kevin, being a year of the monkey person
WoW!!!!!
Thanks for your comments, Jenni! Really glad you like it so much. It is a pretty good one.
Thanks for your comment, Kevin! I was a lot more WOWed when it cleaned up so well!
Thanks for loving my monkey Kevin, Daisy1000, Alfie21, Vynil33rpm, Cisum, Jenni, fortapache, Searching1, dav2no1 and WhenIsraelbelieves!
Thanks, vcal!
His forms are exceptional.
Congrats on finding this one.
Thanks, Karen! It is soaking in motor oil a few feet from where I am lying. Hope to have it sorted, soon!
Thanks Drake47 and Karen!
Wow! It looks fabulous! Amazing job.
wtf , difficult looks like a type of karakane-imono application sort of takaoka maybe?
no i am wrong patina is off sorry
Thanks for your comment rhineisfine! I did one more cleaning cycle since these images and it got a bit better. It was pretty slippery and I dropped it on the carpeted wood floor of my living room but I do think either was damage.
Thanks for your comments, apostata. The finish is similar to that on these two Saegusa oxen from my collection:
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/298886-japanese-cast-iron-cow-okimono-1-by-sae
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/298887-japanese-cast-iron-cow-okimono-1-by-sae?in=2079
Here is an auction for another set which may have brighter images, but I think the finish on mine is in better shape:
https://tinyurl.com/4f6b532p
I have not seen this finish on many SS pieces. One was supposedly bronze, not cast iron, but I am not convinced that is true.
Thanks, jscott0363!
Thanks, Faith.k!
Thanks, Jenni!