Page 130 - Fine Japanese Art October 28, 2020 Galerie Zacke

129 | A RARE LACQUERED OSTRICH EGG
DEPICTING A PROCESSION OF FROGS
Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)

Set on a lacquered hardwood base with six finely carved ivory
monkeys holding up an ostrich egg. The egg is lacquered gold,
red and silver takamaki-e with an amusing and rare depiction of
a frog procession carrying a small frog-daimyo inside a lotus leaf
shaped palanquin, below the cloudy silver moon. Various flowers
are show on the ground, as well as towering leafy stalks of bamboo,
and geese flying geese are scattered throughout the sky. The motif
is inspired by the Choju-jinbutsu-giga scrolls from the 12th-13th
century.
HEIGHT total 23.5 cm
Condition: Very good
condition, minor surface
scratches to the egg
and age cracks and
surface wear to the ivory
monkeys.
Provenance: British
collection.
Estimate EUR 3,000 Excerpt from the Choju-jinbutsu-giga
Starting price EUR 1,500 scrolls from the 12th-13th century

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