A SPECTACULAR AND MASSIVE PARCEL GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF TOBA SEATED ON A MULE Attributed to the Miyao company of Yokohama Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912) The exceptionally large bronze cast in three parts depicting Toba (Su Shi) seated on his mule, the animal standing on a rocky plinth. The mule is naturalistically crafted, the eyes are gilt with black pupils and the mane is carved precisely. It wears a saddle cloth with a finely gilt coiling dragon on each side. The removable massively cast figure of Toba is worked with masterful detail, his robe is adorned with gold-inlaid patterns and his long beard and bushy eyebrows are minutely incised. His expression is exceptionally well-crafted. Toba holds a nyoi-sceptre in one hand and the reins attached to the mule in the other. HEIGHT total 60 cm, LENGTH 52 cm WEIGHT total 17 kg, Toba 6.3 kg, mule and plinth 10.7 kg Condition: Very good original condition with associated wear. Provenance: British collection. Auction comparison: A related bronze, though considerably smaller, was sold by Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, 12 May 2011, London, lot 149 (sold for 21,600 GBP).