Presented in this lot is a Rare Vintage Copyright Reproduction of a Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC - 256 BC) Bronze, Bear Tamer, by Alva Studios (aka Alfred Wolkenberg), circa 1948-1970s. Provenance: the Owen D. Mort, Jr. Collection. Owen David Mort was an American engineer who amassed an impressive collection throughout his worldwide travels. His collection has included art, artifacts and other historical items from which he has donated to museums at the University of Utah and Snite Museum of Art, the University of Notre Dame, including African, Afghan, Indian, Mughal, Persian and Far East Asian artifacts. Alfred was born in Vienna in 1911 and immigrated to the US in 1939. In 1948 he founded Alva Studios of Long Island City, NY. He had many artists and designers who were commissioned to produce reproductions of ancient jewelry and sculptures from various museums around the world. All the pieces were marked Alva Museum Replicas and sold at museums worldwide. The piece was originally commissioned by The Freer Gallery of Art, the first art museum of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. focusing on Asian art. The statuette represents an engaging figure of a man with upraised arms, balancing a bear on top of a pole, is a so-called ming ch'i (spirit or burial objects), and probably represents a court entertainer. This bronze is in nice condition, a rich patina is observed throughout, sits on a small wood pedestal. Remnant of original "Alva Studios Museum Replicas" tag attached to bottom of wood pedestal Measures 7.5"H x 2.5"W x 2.5"D