A bronze model of Shotoku Taishi, after a mould by Takamura Koun (1852-1934)

Shotoku Taishi (574-622), the supposed founder of Buddhism, regent and politican of the imperial court of Japan is conventionally modelled, seated, wearing ceremonial robes, an eboshi and carrying a sceptre, a wood box inscribed Shotoku Taishi za zo, the reverse of the cover signed and dated by Koun's grandson, with impressed signature of Takamura Koun and seal of the sculptor Tanenari (?)

This lot is accompanied by a certificate from Takamura Koun's grandson, signed and dated Heisei 14, hachi gatsu kichijitsu (on an auspicious day in August, in the year 2001), authenticating that the figure was cast from the original mould made by Takamura Koun.