Seibo Kitamura (北村西望), Japanese (1884–1987)

A Bronze Flower Vase "Raifuku" (「来福」)

Showa Era (1926–1989)

About the work

A monumental bronze flower vase titled Raifuku "Good Fortune Arrives" by Seibo Kitamura, one of Japan's most celebrated sculptors of the twentieth century. Cast in bronze with a richly variegated brown and green patina, the vessel features an elegantly rounded form adorned with deeply carved reliefs of a tiger striding through swirling clouds and stylised mountain landscapes. The composition wraps continuously around the body, creating a dynamic sense of movement while maintaining the dignified simplicity characteristic of Seibo's mature works. 

The title Raifuku conveys an auspicious blessing of happiness and prosperity. The tiger, long regarded in East Asian culture as a symbol of courage, protection, and strength, is depicted with remarkable vitality through confident, flowing lines rather than intricate naturalistic detail. The softly modelled surface and nuanced patination lend the vase a timeless presence, while the broad shoulders and generous opening make it equally suitable as a functional flower vessel or a sculptural work of art. The vase is accompanied by its original signed wooden storage box (tomobako).

Dimensions

23.8cm(h) x 20cm(w) x 20cm(d)

Footnote

Seibo Kitamura (北村西望, 1884–1987) was one of Japan's greatest modern sculptors, best known for creating the iconic Peace Statue in Nagasaki Peace Park, unveiled in 1955 as a memorial to the victims of the atomic bombing. Born in Nagasaki Prefecture, he studied at Kyoto City University of Arts and the Tokyo School of Fine Arts before becoming a professor at the latter in 1921 and a member of the Japan Art Academy in 1925. His distinguished career spanned more than seven decades, during which he received numerous national honours and established an enduring legacy through his monumental bronzes and refined smaller-scale sculptures. He remained active into his centenary years and passed away in Tokyo in 1987 at the age of 102.