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A NEGORO LACQUER PORTABLE ZUSHI A BUDDHIST SHARITO (RELIQUARY)
(SHRINE) CONTAINING A GILT-WOOD Muromachi period (1333-1573), 16th century The preservation of relics, chiefly the physical
FIGURE OF JUICHIMEN KANNON A gilt-copper reliquary comprising a drum- remains of religious figures, has played an
(THE 11-HEADED KANNON) shaped container with crystal sides holding important part in Buddhist practice since
Edo period (1615-1868), 18th/19th century a selection of small stones and other objects early times, but in medieval Japan polished
The finely carved and gilt figure seated separated by two dividers, the container pebbles, bones or pieces of glass sometimes
beneath a painted canopy, set on a lotus supported on a lotus pedestal that rests in took the place of actual body parts.
pedestal supported on a five-tiered stand and turn on a throne-like four-legged dais above
backed by a gilt-wood kohai (nimbus), wearing an oval base, the surface of the metal with The particularly high quality and fluid character
a gilt-metal headdress and with four principal nanako (‘fish-roe’) punchings, engraved of the metalwork decoration on this example
arms to the front and numerous smaller arms respectively, from top to bottom, with lotus recalls the early work of the Goto school of
to the sides, the latter holding a variety of petals, floral motifs, and a shippo-zunagi sword-fitting makers and points to a date of
attributes, the interiors of the doors gilded and (linked jewel) pattern. 6.5cm (2½in) high. manufacture in the Muromachi period rather
painted in colour with blossoming lotus plants, than the Momoyama or Edo periods, when
the exterior of the shrine red-lacquered with £2,000 - 3,000 both the form and the decoration of sharito
gilt-metal fittings engraved with floral motifs; JPY300,000 - 450,000 became more standardized. For a larger but
with a wooden storage box. US$2,800 - 4,200 definitely later example, in the Minneapolis
The figure: 18cm (7 1/8in) high; the shrine: Institute of Arts (inv. no. 2006.42), compare
25.3cm (9 7/8in) high. (2). Provenance https://collections.artsmia.org/art/99722/
Monsieur and Madame Raymond Ducas buddhist-reliquary-in-the-shape-of-a-wish-
£3,000 - 4,000 collection, Paris, sold at Christie’s, London, 31 granting-jewel-japan
JPY450,000 - 600,000 October 1972.
US$4,200 - 5,700

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue. FINE JAPANESE ART | 81