A LARGE BRONZE CRANEJapan, Meiji period or laterOn one paw the incised character 七 (nana, “seven”).145,6 cm highProvenance: Italian private collection.In Japan, large bronze sculptures of cranes - birds with many symbolic meanings - were traditionally located within temples. Starting from the late nineteenth century, similar sculptures were also exported to Europe and the United States, where they were essentially appreciated for their aesthetic values.