Product Description

7494           A bronze vase of sculpted ovular form with a raised circular design to the shoulder

Signed: Toshiō

Japan 20th century Shōwa period

Dimensions: H. 51.5cm x W. 21.5cm x D. 11.5cm (20½” x 8½” x 4¾”)

Tomobako (original box) inscribed:
Lid: Seidō kabin (bronze vase)
Lid interior: Toshiō saku
Seal: Toshiō

Ichihashi Toshiō (1919-2005) was born on Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture and attended the Niigata prefectural middle high school. After graduation he showed his works at The Tokyo Exhibition in 1933 and the Teiten (Imperial Academy of Fine Art Exhibition) and Nikakai Exhibitions of 1934.

In 1941 he graduated from the Japanese air force academy and in 1944 was made commander. After the war Toshiō entered the Tokyo School of Fine Arts to study metalwork and graduated in 1951 before going on to became a professor at Tokyo University of the Arts and Musashino Art University.

Toshiō participated in various prestigious exhibitions both in Japan and abroad including the International Crafts Exhibition in Florence and the California Exposition in 1957 where he won the gold prize. He was also included in the Nitten (The Japan Fine Arts Exhibition) and exhibited twelve times winning the Hokuto prize in 1961. He later went on to become a judge at Nitten in 1971.

Works by the artist can be found in the collection of the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, and the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto.