Asakura Kyoko — Bronze Sculpture 'Te wo Kumu Onna' (Woman Clasping Her Hands) (Sold)

This piece has found its home. It is kept here as a record of what has passed through our hands.

This exceptional bronze sculpture by Asakura Kyoko (1925-2016), one of Japan's most prominent post-war figurative sculptors, exemplifies her mastery of depicting the female form with grace and vitality.

Titled "Te wo Kumu Onna" (Woman Clasping Her Hands), this work presents a young woman in a dynamic pose that radiates positive energy and inner strength.

Born as the second daughter of the renowned sculptor Asakura Fumio, Kyoko established her own distinguished career, achieving four consecutive Special Selection Awards at the Nitten Exhibition between 1947 and 1951—an unprecedented achievement that marked her as an extraordinary talent.

She became the leading figure in realistic figurative sculpture with female subjects as her primary motif.

This particular work showcases her signature style: the beautiful proportions of a young woman captured in a moment of quiet contemplation, with hands clasped together.

The dynamic pose conveys a sense of movement and vitality, while the sculpture captures that distinctive quality of healthy sensuality and freshness that only a female sculptor could achieve with such nuance and understanding.

The work demonstrates Kyoko's ability to express inner emotions through external form—a positive spirit and confident vitality that emanates from the figure.

The sculpture is cast in bronze with a refined patina and is mounted on a natural stone base.

It bears the artist's signature in Roman letters on the lower portion.

The piece comes with its original fitted wooden box (tomobako), confirming its authenticity.

This work was acquired by a dedicated collector of Asakura Kyoko's sculpture at her solo exhibition held at Gallery Universe in Tokyo's Ginza district.

Size
Height: 44.5 cm (excluding stone base)

Condition
Excellent condition with no notable damage or deterioration.

Artist Profile
Asakura Kyoko (1925-2016) was one of Japan's most celebrated post-war figurative sculptors. Born as the second daughter of the legendary sculptor Asakura Fumio, she grew up immersed in artistic excellence—her elder sister Asakura Setsu was also a renowned stage designer and painter. Trained from childhood at her father's Asakura Sculpture Studio, she made her debut at the 1942 Shin Bunten exhibition and achieved remarkable success with four consecutive Special Selection Awards at the Nitten Exhibition (1947-1951), establishing her reputation as an artist of exceptional talent. In 1960, she participated in founding the avant-garde group "Shudan Gendai Chokoku" (Contemporary Sculpture Group), and throughout her career received numerous honors including the Nagano Outdoor Sculpture Prize (1979) and the Nakahara Teijiro Prize Excellence Award (1982). Her works, characterized by their modern, urbane sensibility and meticulous attention to the female form, can be found in public spaces throughout Japan, including major installations in Tokyo, Yokohama, and Nagoya. Her ability to capture contemporary women with both realistic detail and poetic grace made her works accessible to the general public while maintaining high artistic standards.

NOITICE:

The lot will be carefully packaged and sent by Japan Post, DHL or FedEx depend on the situation.
It takes about 3 weeks to receive normally.
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Sold — no longer available.