Page 6 - September 21 2021 Important Japanese Art Christie's NYC

PROPERTY FROM A PRINCELY COLLECTION
1 A SET OF TWELVE SILVER ARTICULATED
SCULPTURES OF INSECTS

MEIJI-TAISHO PERIOD (EARLY 20TH CENTURY), EACH SIGNED KOZAN (TAKASE
KOZAN; 1869-1934)
Each insect constructed of numerous
hammered parts jointed together with
movable wings, limbs or antennae, each finely
detailed; signature on body
The largest 3æ in. (9.7 cm.) long, the smallest 1√ in. (4.8 cm.) long
With a hyohonbako (display box) with glass top
and lid of the original wood box signed Kozan,
sealed Heian kinko Kozan in and Choyoraku,
titled Konchu (insect) (12)

$50,000-70,000

PROVENANCE:
Bonhams, London, 7 November 2013, lot 512
Tokyo Art Club, Tokyo, 28 April 1940, lot 174

Kitagawa Utamaro (ca. 1754–1806). Butterfly (Cho); Dragonfly (Kagero or Tonbo), from
the Picture Book of Crawling Creatures (Ehon mushi erami). Japan. Edo period, 1788. The
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Rogers Fund, 1918, JP1046