Page 110 - Fine Japanese Art October 28, 2020 Galerie Zacke

105 | SAISHASHUN: A BIZEN
CERAMIC FIGURE OF A
BIJIN DRYING HERSELF,
EX HAYASHI COLLECTION

Signed Saishashun tsukuru
Japan, late 19th century

Finely modeled as a gently smiling beauty drying
herself with a towel behind her back after a bath, the
depiction exhibiting subtle eroticism with her neatly
incised kimono tied at the waist and revealing her
supple breasts, the hair tied into an elaborate bun,
signed SAISHASHUN tsukuru on the underside.
HEIGHT 20.2 cm
Condition: Very good condition with few minor losses
and chips to the base as well as minor traces of wear.
Provenance: Collection André Schoeller (1877-
1956), Paris (collection label to base). Collection
of Hayashi Tadamasa (1853–1906). Hayashi was
a Japanese art dealer in Paris who introduced
traditional Japanese art such as ukiyo-e to Europe.
Hayashi provided the text for the May 1886 edition of
Paris Illustré. Vincent van Gogh traced the figure on
the title page for his painting The Courtesan. In 1900
he was a general commissioner of the Japanese art
section at the World ‘s Fair in Paris. He also worked
with Dr. George Frederick Kunz and Heber R. Bishop
in writing and producing the catalog to the famous
jade collection given to the Metropolitan Museum of
Art in 1902.
Hayashi Title page of Paris
Estimate EUR 2,000 Tadamasa Illustré “Le Japon’ vol. 4,
Starting price EUR 1,000 May 1886, no. 45-46

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