A SEIYA BRONZE ELEPHANT GROUPA SEIYA BRONZE ELEPHANT GROUPJapan, Meiji period (1868-1912). Highly sophisticated portrayals of a mother elephant and her young, with inlaid ivory tusks and extremely fine detail work to their characteristic skin. The ears of both polished inside with a cocoa-brown patina, the teats of the mother well visible at the bottom of her belly. Massive and heavy cast. The elephant cub bearing the artist signature SEIYA of the famous bronze animalist Genryusai Seiya, neatly incised into one paw. (2)LENGTH 32 cm (the mother) and 16 cm (the cub)WEIGHT 3 kilograms (the mother) and 486 grams (the cub)Provenance: Austrian private collection. Condition: Superb condition with only minor wear.