Meiji Period Large Bronze Tiger
05 January 2026
Description

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, My Name is Florian Winkler and I am a German National living in Bangkok. I have gotten the attached massive bronze tiger from my granddad. It is confirmed that is has been in our family since the early 1900s as far as I could trace it back. It was always inside the house. He got it back in the beginning of the 1900 from another old couples villa which had it already for several years. I would like to ask the potential value of that extraordinary piece please. The Dimensions are as following Tiger itself 120 x 52 x 30 cm Antique Wood 126 x 55 x 24cm Tiger height on the wood standing 74 cm Weight all together over 100KG easily estimate is like 150 kg or heavier. Its in really good condition. I tried to do research and I can trace it back to the Meiji Period. Also there is a stamp and I belive the artist is Taaki or similar but I am not sure. It would be great to get more information please Thank you Florian Winkler

Dimensions

The Dimensions are as following Tiger itself 120 x 52 x 30 cm Antique Wood 126 x 55 x 24cm Tiger height on the wood standing 74 cm Weight all together over 100KG easily estimate is like 150 kg or heavier.

Acquired from
Inherited
For sale
Yes
Answered within 7 days
By David U.
Jan 12, 11:21 UTC
Fair Market Value
$30,000 - $50,000 USD
Insurance Value $0 USD
What does this mean?

Hello, this item is a large Japanese bronze sculpture of a tiger dating to the Meiji period, late nineteenth to early twentieth century. Based on the images, the work shows strong naturalistic modeling, powerful anatomical tension, and expressive detailing of the head, paws, and musculature, all characteristic of Meiji era bronze animal sculpture made for export and elite domestic interiors. The bronze surface displays a consistent dark patina with natural wear appropriate to age, and the casting quality suggests a skilled workshop rather than later decorative production. The scale is exceptional, exceeding one meter in length, and the sculpture is mounted on a carved wooden base that appears period and purpose made. The presence of a seal or stamp, while not fully legible in the provided images, supports Japanese authorship, though attribution to a named artist such as Taikan or similar cannot be confirmed without clearer marks.

From a market perspective, large Meiji period bronze animal sculptures, particularly tigers, are highly sought after due to their technical quality, rarity at this scale, and symbolic appeal. Comparable examples sold at international auction houses typically range between USD 25,000 and USD 45,000 for large scale works in good condition, with exceptional examples exceeding this range. Given the impressive size, strong sculptural quality, good condition, and credible early twentieth century provenance, a fair market auction estimate for this piece would be USD 30,000 to USD 50,000.

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