Okimono or sculpture in the form of a sleekly stylized, striding polar bear. Of cast hakudo or white bronze with a mushi-kui textured patina achieved by lining the mold with graphite. Signed on the reverse with a chiseled seal-form signature by the artist: Koji (Hachii Koji, 1905 – 1967). Showa 35 or 1960.

With the tomobako or original box, inscribed on the exterior of the lid: Hakudo Shiro Kuma Okimono or White Bronze Polar Bear Sculpture; and on the reverse of the lid dated and signed: Showa Sanju-go Nen, Hachi-gatsu Saku, Hachii Koji or Made in Showa (era) 35th Year (1960), August, (by) Hachii Koji, and sealed: Koji.

Born in Kanazawa, Hachii Koji graduated from the metal casting department of the Tokyo Fine Arts School in 1929. He studied with Takamura Hoshu and Naito Haruji. His work was accepted into the national exhibitions for the first time with the 9th Teiten in 1928. Subsequently his work was accepted frequently at the Teiten, and after its reorganization, at the Shin-Bunten up until the War. He also worked for a training institute under the Ministry of Business and Industry. When young, he was a member of the Mukei artists’ group, with which he also exhibited. Later in his career he concentrated on sculptural work.

Hachii Koji’s work is in the collections of the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum, and one of his Constructivist modern sculptures dating from 1928 is illustrated in The Art of Ishikawa, page 123, plate 142.