(Japan, Showa era, 1926 – 1989)
Bronze 7.9 x 5.5 in. (20 x 14 cm)
Signed 庄三, Shôzô
About Nitten Exhibition : The Nitten is the most popular and prestigious art organization in Japan, with only best artists from all over Japan participating in its annual exhibitions. It started and 1907 by Japanese Imperial Ministry of Education and was known then as Bunten show , later on it was renamed again in to Teiten and after reorganization of Imperial Art Academy n 1937, became known is Nitten show.Till this day it remains as the most recognized and prestigious Art promoting exhibition.
The artist Sugai Shôzô was a Nitten exhibition artist. He started metal crafting in April of Taisho 4 (1915). Shozo specialised in the lost-wax method (rogata in Japanese), and made numerous prototype casts for various well-known artists including Shinkai Taketaro (1868 -1927). He worked in Yamagata Prefecture at the Nishimura Metal Studio (Yamagata City) during circa 1963– 1972. He was a regular exhibitor at the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition (Nihon Dento ko geiten) and received several awards. In 1951 (Showa 26), he exhibited at the 7th Nitten exhibition. In 1971 he received The order of the Rising Sun , Silver rays.