Page 251 - Fine Japanese Netsuke, Sagemono, Oikimono April 29, 2019 Galerie Zacke

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AN UNUSUAL MECHANICAL IVORY OKIMONO OF RAIJIN
WITH A MAN HIDING IN A TREE BY MEIRAKU
"Y -EIRAKU IVORY OKIMONO
Japan, late 19 CENTURY -EIJI PERIOD
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336
AN EXCELLENT IVORY OKIMONO OF SHOKI THE An unusual okimono depicting the thunder god Raijin seated on a
DEMON QUELLER AND MANY ONI BY GYOKUSHIN tree trunk holding two shakers with his drum, with mitsudomo-e
"Y 'YOKUSHIN IVORY OKIMONO symbol, in front of him. He is wearing a tiger-skin loincloth and is
Japan, late 19 CENTURY -EIJI PERIOD surrounded by a garland. Interestingly, when tilting the okimono,
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337 a little man with a frightened expression is revealed, who is hiding
A whimsical, strange scene – the famous hunter of all AN EXCELLENT IVORY OKIMONO OF A DRUNKEN ONI WITH from the thunder god. The structure of the tree trunk is achieved
demons, from China to Japan, has captured a large number TANUKI very well and signature on the underside in a recessed reserve
of small oni and is about to jam them into a large barrel. Unsigned, ivory okimono MEIRAKU. A well-detailed and clever carving.
They are fighting with tooth and nail while Shoki is clearly Japan, late 19 CENTURY TO -EIJI PERIOD
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struggling to close the lid and although he is using all his HEIGHT 6 CM, LENGTH 8 CM
strength and has one foot on the lid, he will surely not A drunken oni, depicted as a vendor, his face and horns very finely
succeed. Two oni have already escaped and are attacking him carved, in a joyous dance pose. The demon is holding a piece of Condition: Very good condition
at his boot. The bearded Shoki’s head is earnest and lively, an octopus tentacle up high in one hand and a sake bottle with Provenance: French private collection
he is wearing an elaborately decorated Chinese garment and A CHARACTER MEANING hMORE OF THATv AMONG OTHER THINGS IN THE
CARRYING A STRAIGHT SWORD ken) on his back. The oni are all OTHER (E IS CARRYING AN UMBRELLA ON HIS BACK "ESIDE THE oni is Estimate EUR 1.000,-
very small and meticulously carved. Small collection label and a tanuki, a kind of demonic raccoon, which is sometimes also Starting price EUR 500,-
signature GYOKUSHIN on the underside of the barrel. depicted selling sake. The garment folds and other details are
carved in a very lively manner, and a two-character inscription inlaid
HEIGHT 6.9 CM in red lacquer within a decorative reserve on the tanuki’s belly,
presumably reading 嚖㮹 – loosely translating to ‘savage people’.
Condition: Excellent condition
0ROVENANCE "RITISH PRIVATE COLLECTION OLD COLLECTOR S LABEL @' HEIGHT 14.4 CM
360’ and ‘480’, as well as a label identifying the signature
Condition: Good condition, one hand has been reattached - but
Estimate EUR 2.500,- barely visible
Starting price EUR 1.250,- Provenance: Austrian private collection
Estimate EUR 1.500,-
Starting price EUR 750,-

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