Bronze sculpture representing an owl on a tree stump covered with ivy. The owl, detachable from its base, has shakudo eyes. It is certainly an Ryûkyû scops owl (Otus elegans), present in the south of Japan in Ryûkyû Islands.

Red fabric glued to the base of the trunk to protect the base and the pedestal (not original).

The owl (fukurô, 梟) symbolizes good luck and protection from hardship. By homonymy, fukuro mean « good fortune coming » (福来郎) or « without difficulties »
(不苦労). Furthermore, being able to see in the dark, it is famous to have great wisdom and the power to predict the future.

Japan – Meiji era (1868-1912)

Height: 14.57 in. (37 cm) – width: 9.45 in. (24 cm) – depth: 6.7 in. (17 cm)