This is an exceptional bronze and parcel gilt Oni from Japan's Meiji era. Modeled after Miyao Eisuke's style, the Oni stands with a wide stance on a rocky design, adorned with engravings of flowers and roundels of phoenixes and a grand dragon across the back. The robe is secured with a circular do and reveals a wolf's head loincloth. The Oni holds a magnificent bronze lotus in one outstretched arm. Known for their fearsome and ruthless nature, oni are often depicted as horned, ogre-like creatures in Japanese folklore and are considered a type of yōkai. However, in some contexts, oni can bring good fortune and even convert to Buddhism, as symbolized by the large lotus flower held by this particular figure.
