Page 191 - Fine Japanese Art October 28, 2020 Galerie Zacke

169 | YOSHIMITSU: A RARE LACQUERED WOOD AND
IVORY OKIMONO OF A YOUNG MINAMOTO YO
YOSHITSUNE AND FUJIWARA NO HIDEHIRA
By Yoshimitsu, signed Yoshimitsu
Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)

The young Yoshitsune standing on a craggy tree stump and holding
a buffalo horn tsuba in one hand, with a tanto between his torso
and other arm, while his protector Hidehira is holding up a small
table with an inlaid buffalo horn object on top, a katana in his right
hand and a sagemono with double-gourd flask tied to his obi, their
long robes lacquered in black and gold with foliate and geometric
designs, Hidehira’s showing mother-of-pearl inlays as well. The
base and robes are carved from wood while the feet, hands, heads,
swords, and table are carved from ivory. Signed YOSHIMITSU within
a red-lacquered rectangular reserve to the base.
HEIGHT 18.8 cm
Condition: Excellent condition with only few minor traces of wear.
Provenance: British collection.

Estimate EUR 2,000
Starting price EUR 1,000

170 | NAKAYAMA:
A SHIBAYAMA INLAID
IVORY AND WOOD OKIMONO
OF A MAN DRAWING
WATER FROM A WELL

By Shibayama Nakayama, signed Nakayama
Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)

The man wearing an elaborately decorated robe inlaid
in the Shibayama style with coral and mother-of-pearl,
holding a bucket full of water in his hand, which he
evidently has just drawn from the well behind him,
looking upwards with a satisfied smile on his face, a
small puppy and a cockerel beside him. The well with
a bucket attached under the roof, with a cat seated
on the roof. The flat rectangular wood base rising
from four ivory feet, the man, dog, cat, some fittings to
the well as well as the water inside carved from ivory
and the well, roof, and chicken carved from wood.
Note the skillful use of different materials as well as
the liveliness of the composition. Signed NAKAYAMA
within a mother-of-pearl plaque on the underside.
HEIGHT 13 cm
Condition: One part of the roof has been reattached,
otherwise in excellent condition with only minor
traces of wear.
Provenance: British collection, old collector number
to base.
Estimate EUR 1,500
Starting price EUR 750

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