19th c. Japanese Bronze Sculpture of a Northern Goshawk.

8.5 x 3.5 x 5” h.

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The earliest mention of “hawking” in Japan dates back to 650 BC.Originally introduced from China, the training of hawks for hunting became an important sport for the warrior class and nobility of feudal Japan. Large hunting parties, including highly skilled falconers would travel the country expressing the lord's political and military authority. The art of falconry, Takagari (鷹狩) reached its peak in the 17th c. under the Tokugawa Shogunate and continued until the Meiji Restoration in the mid 1800’s. Goshawks were used exclusively for hunting and became a popular status symbol frequently depicted in paintings, poetry and the decorative arts.