A Japanese bronze model of an elephant fighting two tigers, cast during the Meiji period (1868–1912), bearing the foundry mark Tsunemitsu (常光).
Tsunemitsu 常光 (Tsunemitsu) is the maker’s / foundry mark for Tsukahara Tsunemitsu 塚原常光, father and son master casters from Takaoka, active across two generations during the Meiji, Taishō and Shōwa eras.
Takaoka was one of Japan’s principal bronze casting centres, and works bearing the Tsunemitsu mark are recognised for their quality and were produced for both domestic use and export markets.
The dynamic subject reflects the period’s increasing interest in naturalistic animal studies. Following the opening of Tokyo Zoo in 1882, Japanese artists were able to observe exotic animals directly, contributing to improved anatomical accuracy in sculptural depictions of elephants, tigers, and other non-native species.
Note: The tusks on this piece are synthetic replacements.