Shozo Hayashi (林昭三), Japanese, 1935–2019

A Bronze Paperweight “Snail” (蝸牛文鎮)

Showa Era (1926–1989) or Heisei Era (1989-2019)

About the work

A delightful bronze paperweight titled “Snail” by the esteemed Japanese sculptor Shozo Hayashi. Cast in bronze with a natural green patina that evokes the gentle aging of copper, the piece features a finely modeled snail poised atop a softly curled leaf. Its organic form and subtle expressiveness reflect Hayashi’s lifelong focus on nature and movement, captured through masterful bronze work.

Elegant in scale and realistic in form, this work serves as both a decorative object and a functional paperweight. It is accompanied by its original signed tomobako (wooden presentation box) and biographical insert.

Dimensions

20.9cm(w) x 4.9cm(d) x 4.7(h)

Footnote

Shozo Hayashi (1935–2019) was a celebrated sculptor from Niigata Prefecture. He rose to national prominence in the 1960s through consistent recognition in major exhibitions such as Nitten (Japan Fine Arts Exhibition), where he was a member and served three times as a juror. He received multiple top distinctions including the Nitten Member Prize and Tokusen (Special Selection). As a member and juror of the Japan Artists’ Association (Nichiboku), he also received the Doryoku-sho (Effort Prize) twice.

Over the decades, Hayashi’s work ranged from intimate bronze forms to large-scale commissions, including the beloved “Red Horse” sculpture for Ueno Zoo and a bronze statue of Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone. His works are known for their elegant lines, playful sensibility, and deep connection to nature.