Page 35 - September 21 2021 Important Japanese Art Christie's NYC

PROPERTY FROM A PRINCELY COLLECTION
16 AN IRON PANEL OF BUNSHOSEI (THE STAR

DEMON)

MEIJI PERIOD (LATE 19TH CENTURY), SIGNED TOMOTOSHI WITH CURSIVE
MONOGRAM (KAO) (HIRANO UNOKICHI; 1831-1889)
The rectangular iron panel decorated with
polychrome patinated mixed metal parts as
Bunshosei (the Star Demon; Kaisei) holding
a brush and ink stone looking out to a tou
(measurement vessel) against a lacquered
ishimeji (stone imitation) ground, the body
chains decorated with green and white stones;
signatures in gilt parts attached to lower right
43æ x 27¿ in. (111.1 x 68.9 cm.)

$10,000-20,000

PROVENANCE:
Hans-Joachin Eschbaum

The prominent Mito School metalwork artist, Hirano
Unokichi (1831-1889) was born in Mito and later moved
to Yokohama and Edo. He was known for producing
sword fittings mainly for the export market. Although
little is known about this artist, this work shows the skillful
techiniques of the artist using various type of colorful soft
metals.

Anonymous, Bunshosei. Japan. 1800-1880. The
British Museum, London, Puchased from Prof. William
Anderson, 1881, 1881,1210,0.793. Photograph © [August
2021] The Trustees of the British Museum