Bronze tiger - japanese? How old?

I think I pretty much stole this on ebay - couldn't pass it up and I was the only bidder. Bronze tiger statue - about 8" long and 5" high. Not marked as far as I can find. I see some similar sculptures listed online as being from Japan - Meiji period-ish. This has a couple of dings/scratches here and there but overall looks good to me. Opinions - is it Japanese - if not, where from - and how old?

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No idea, but it's pretty cool. The square nut indicates some age I would think, but maybe you knew that already.

Curious to see if others have ideas!

 

looks like an asian tiger....and boy does she have muscles.......nice work !

 

HE's a beauty isn't he - and you'd have known he's a he if I had uploaded a pic between his hind legs...ha.

 

Strange casting method whoever made it,the head is 2 pieces and I can't tell how many pieces the body is and all brazed together.

 

Yes, unusual. I've never seen that on Japanese bronzes, so may not be Japanese.

 

LGBTQ......

 

Have you looked for a mark in his mouth?

 

No, not closely - I'll have a closer look in his mouth in a couple hours when I get back home. Thank you!

 

Never knew the T was for tiger.

 

He looks a bit cheesed off. You need to get the red dot out of the drawer and let him chase it around for a while.

 

The base looks like pot metal.
I noticed a nick on his lower lip. Can you tell if it is bronze underneath or do you see pot metal.

 

I like him. I would wash him, but not polish him. Try to get the paint spots off.

 

why are there always paint spots on old bronzes and baskets..????

 

He has an especially lean & hungry look compared to others that are similar, but no stripes?

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/31069761_chinese-bronze-tiger


http://www.icollector.com/Large-antique-Chinese-bronze-tiger-Signed_i13355231

 

Yep the base is definitely pot metal - I don't see any silvery/grey anywhere on any of the nicks or scratches that he has - I'm fairly sure he's bronze - 0 attraction to a rare earth magnet.

 

He is very lean/muscular for sure - I agree moreso than a lot of others out there. He does have stripes - they're hard to see in the lighting I used for the pictures. They're incised more than colored.

 

He is very lean/muscular for sure.....
which is why I thought a she !!

 

Was just asking myself the same question - and wondering a good way to get the paint off him without damaging the patina...

 

I'd start by seeing if a fingernail might move the residue......
it would be good to know what kind of paint though.....