Okimono or small sculpture in the form of a carp leaping out of waves. Of cast and cold-chiseled bronze, the fish’s eyes inlaid in red bronze, gold and shakudo, the wave base patinated black and the carp with a warm red-brown tone. Signed on one side of the wave base by the artist with a chiseled signature: Joun Saku or Made by Joun (Oshima Joun, 1858 – 1940). Late Meiji – Taisho era, circa 1900 – 1920.

With the tomobako or original box inscribed on the exterior of the lid: Haneage Koi or Leaping Carp; and on the reverse of the lid signed by the artist: Ichijoken Joun Saku or Made by Ichijoken Joun, and sealed.

For another okimono by Oshima Joun with a motif of fish in waves, c.f. The Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Japanese Art: Meiji No Takara: Treasures of Imperial Japan, Metalwork Part II, number 102.

Oshima Joun was a professor at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts from 1887 until 1932, and he was famous for his great skill in bronze casting. Born to a family of metalworkers, Joun succeeded to the family business in 1877 and adopted the art name Joun that year. By 1879 he had built up the business to the point that he had 11 assistants working in his studio. Much of his work from this time period was sold through high-level commissioning houses such as Honda, Sanseisha, and Murakami Heishichi. He exhibited at the 2nd National Industrial Exposition in 1881, and at such international venues as the Paris Exposition in 1900 and the London Japan-British Exposition in 1910.