THE SPECIFICATIONS
Artist: Makoto Kagoshima (b. 1967)
Title: Le Tigre Souriant (The Smiling Tiger)
Dimensions: 14 ½" x 11" x 1" (Grand Oval Centerpiece)
Medium: Hand-Carved Earthenware, Glaze
Edition: Unique Artwork — Double-Sided Original Work (Features custom hand-drawn tiger bust illustration & signature on verso)
Provenance: Direct from Chariots on Fire, Venice (Official U.S. Gallery)
Care: Food safe, hand wash recommended.
Terms: Sale is final.
Availability: Exclusive to Chariots on Fire, Venice. Curated in California since 2006.
Fulfillment: Shipped from Venice, CA (Local pickup available).
THE SCULPTURAL NARRATIVE
Exclusively presented by Chariots on Fire, Le Tigre Souriant is a defining work of scale and narrative expression by artist Makoto Kagoshima. At 14 ½ inches, this grand oval centerpiece offers exceptional spatial versatility for interior designers—serving as an ideal focal point for a primary dining table, an anchor atop a low credenza, or vertically mounted as a hero work in a formal entry gallery.
Beyond its primary face, this work carries supreme collector value as a double-sided original: the verso features a rare, custom hand-drawn illustration of a tiger bust alongside Kagoshima’s signature, offering proof of intimate contact with the artist during creation.
Here, Kagoshima captures a full-length tiger in mid-stride with its tail arching in playful motion. Encircling the feline figure are ten signature Kagoshima floral elements, bordered by an intricate perimeter of trailing vine flowers, wild blueberries, and delicate blush-toned calendula motifs. Rendered with extraordinary graphic precision, the composition strikes a perfect balance between sculptural presence, symbolic protection, and whimsical elegance.
“What I create for Chariots embodies Los Angeles,” notes Kagoshima. The historic partnership between the artist and Chariots on Fire began with a pivotal 2010 meeting in Japan that led to his debut U.S. exhibition in Venice, California. Spanning 11 landmark gallery exhibitions (2013–2022) and major design collaborations—including 1/1 hand-knotted textiles with premier rug maker Christopher Farr—this piece stands as a milestone centerpiece within Kagoshima’s ongoing studio lineage, with new presentations anticipated for 2027.
— Discover the complete studio lineage and historic U.S. & Japan exhibition history in Happenings.
THE SPECIFICATIONS
Artist: Makoto Kagoshima (b. 1967)
Title: Le Tigre Souriant (The Smiling Tiger)
Dimensions: 14 ½" x 11" x 1" (Grand Oval Centerpiece)
Medium: Hand-Carved Earthenware, Glaze
Edition: Unique Artwork — Double-Sided Original Work (Features custom hand-drawn tiger bust illustration & signature on verso)
Provenance: Direct from Chariots on Fire, Venice (Official U.S. Gallery)
Care: Food safe, hand wash recommended.
Terms: Sale is final.
Availability: Exclusive to Chariots on Fire, Venice. Curated in California since 2006.
Fulfillment: Shipped from Venice, CA (Local pickup available).
THE SCULPTURAL NARRATIVE
Exclusively presented by Chariots on Fire, Le Tigre Souriant is a defining work of scale and narrative expression by artist Makoto Kagoshima. At 14 ½ inches, this grand oval centerpiece offers exceptional spatial versatility for interior designers—serving as an ideal focal point for a primary dining table, an anchor atop a low credenza, or vertically mounted as a hero work in a formal entry gallery.
Beyond its primary face, this work carries supreme collector value as a double-sided original: the verso features a rare, custom hand-drawn illustration of a tiger bust alongside Kagoshima’s signature, offering proof of intimate contact with the artist during creation.
Here, Kagoshima captures a full-length tiger in mid-stride with its tail arching in playful motion. Encircling the feline figure are ten signature Kagoshima floral elements, bordered by an intricate perimeter of trailing vine flowers, wild blueberries, and delicate blush-toned calendula motifs. Rendered with extraordinary graphic precision, the composition strikes a perfect balance between sculptural presence, symbolic protection, and whimsical elegance.
“What I create for Chariots embodies Los Angeles,” notes Kagoshima. The historic partnership between the artist and Chariots on Fire began with a pivotal 2010 meeting in Japan that led to his debut U.S. exhibition in Venice, California. Spanning 11 landmark gallery exhibitions (2013–2022) and major design collaborations—including 1/1 hand-knotted textiles with premier rug maker Christopher Farr—this piece stands as a milestone centerpiece within Kagoshima’s ongoing studio lineage, with new presentations anticipated for 2027.
— Discover the complete studio lineage and historic U.S. & Japan exhibition history in Happenings.
