A vintage pair of cast iron doves (夫婦鳩 / meoto hato) is a masterful work by celebrated Japanese sculptor Sotaro Saegusa (三枝惣太郎, 1911–2006), known for his refined, poetic approach to form and material. Saegusa's work often focused on natural motifs, and this pair of doves beautifully reflects his sensitivity to balance, harmony, and the gentle grace of everyday life.
Rendered in heavy, textured cast iron, the doves feature minimalist lines and soft contours, emphasizing their quiet intimacy as a pair, a symbolic representation of marital harmony, lifelong partnership, and peace. The surface bears Saegusa's hallmark subtle patina, highlighting the serene expressions and rounded forms of the birds.
These meoto hato (literally “husband-and-wife doves”) are not only aesthetically timeless but also rich in meaning, making them a deeply symbolic addition to a home or a thoughtful gift for weddings, anniversaries, or collectors of modern Japanese metalwork.
Sotaro Saegusa born in 1911 in Japan, Saegusa began his artistic journey during a time when Western influences were increasingly merging with traditional Japanese craftsmanship. He was a Japanese sculptor and metal artisan known for his work primarily in cast iron and bronze. While not as internationally mainstream as some contemporaries, he developed a distinct and refined style that melded Japanese aesthetics with modern sculptural abstraction, often working in small-scale formats with symbolic resonance.
