Page 50 - Wolley & Wallace, July 1, 2020 Japanese Works of Art UK

308
A JAPANESE KAGA STYLE BRONZE DISH
MEIJI PERIOD, 19 CENTURY
TH
Decorated with a central medallion enclosing the figure of Eguchi no Kimi as
Fugen Bosatsu in shibuichi takazogan, the deity wearing long robes and her
hair held up with kanzashi ornaments, holding a long handscroll and standing
on an elephant, with twelve inlaid cranes flying amongst scrolling clouds to
the cavetto in gold honzogan, 32.5cm.
£500-1,000
See Bonhams New York, 19th September 2008, lot 5183 for another Kaga style
bronze dish.
Kimi was a famous prostitute from the village of Eguchi who after assiduously
studying Buddhist scriptures became an incarnation of Fugen Bosatsu, the
bodhisattva of Universal Goodness, Virtue and Worthiness. See lot 385 for
another depiction of this myth.

309
A JAPANESE INLAID IRON BOX AND COVER BY HARUTOSHI,
KOBAKO
MEIJI PERIOD, 19 CENTURY
TH
The hexagonal iron body inlaid with a depiction of a small child, karako,
holding a small spin wheel, kazaguruma, and climbing upon Hotei’s shoulders,
the God of Good Fortune leaning over his bottomless bag of treasures and
pointing at an uchiwa fan before them, with details in gold, shibuichi and
silver takazogan, the lid signed Harutoshi with two gold seals, one for Chosai,
5.1cm x 11.5cm x 10.2cm. (2)
£2,000-3,000
The signature may be for Uchino Harutoshi (who also used the name Ichigenshi),
a swordsmith and pupil of the Hirata Family, renowned for their highly decorative
hand guards. A tsuba by Harutoshi decorated with implements for the tea
ceremony is recorded in the collection of Michael Tomkinson (1841-1921).

310
A JAPANESE WOOD AND MIXED METAL BOX AND COVER,
KOBAKO
MEIJI PERIOD, 19 CENTURY
TH
The rectangular lid decorated with Daikoku, the God of Good Fortune lying
against his large sack of treasures, a hand supporting his head and the other
holding his mallet, laughing at two of his pet rats before him, with a wad of
banknotes behind inscribed kin ju ryo, 4.2cm x 7.5cm x 9.9cm. (2)
£200-300

48 See paragraphs 4 & 5 of our conditions of business at the back of the catalogue for additional charges on the final hammer prices