Bronze Ninomiya Sontoku (Kinjiro) Statue

This is a bronze metal sculpture depicting Ninomiya Sontoku (born Ninomiya Kinjiro), a prominent 19th-century Japanese agricultural philosopher and moralist. The figure is cast in a traditional pose, shown as a young boy walking while reading a book, carrying a heavy load of firewood on his back. The sculpture is rendered with a dark chocolate brown patina, showcasing a medium-to-dark aged bronze finish. It stands on a mound-shaped bronze base which is further mounted upon a tiered black rectangular plinth. The craftsmanship displays fine detail in the drapery of the kimono, the texture of the firewood, and the youthful features of the subject. Regarding condition, the bronze shows expected surface aging with minor variations in the patina consistent with a late 19th to early 20th-century Meiji or Taisho era piece. There are no immediate signs of structural damage or major repairs visible in the image, though light dust accumulation is present in the recessed areas of the casting. The quality of the casting suggests it was intended for an indoor setting, likely as an inspirational piece symbolizing diligence and study, which are the core virtues associated with Sontoku.