Japanese Bronze By Sugai Shôzô - Perfume Burner - Owl

Sugai Chozo 須貝庄三, (1901-1972), was an artist who regularly participated in Nitten exhibitions (Nitten is Japan's most popular and prestigious art organization. Only the country's best artists participate in its annual exhibitions. Established in 1907 by the Imperial Ministry of Education, it was then known as Bunten. It was later renamed Teiten, and then, after the reorganization of the Imperial Academy of Fine Arts in 1937, it became Nitten. It remains Japan's most recognized and prestigious art exhibition today).

He began metalworking in April of Taisho 4 (1915). Specializing in the lost-wax technique (rogata in Japanese), Shôzô made numerous prototypes for various renowned artists, including Taketaro Shinkai (1868-1927). He worked in Yamagata Prefecture at the Nishimura Metal Workshop (Yamagata City) from about 1963 to 1972. He regularly participated in the Japanese Traditional Crafts Exhibition (Nihon Dento ko geiten) and received several awards. In 1971, he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Silver Rays.