Page 194 - Fine Japanese Art October 28, 2020 Galerie Zacke

173 | SHINMEI/MASAAKI:
A LARGE IVORY
OKIMONO OF
A BIJIN WITH
BOY AND GIRL

By Kimura Yonekichi, signed
Shinmei (Masaaki) to
Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)

The beautiful lady (bijin) standing
on the flat oval base holding
a young boy in her arms with
a young girl standing beside
her, their robes neatly incised
with various foliate, floral, and
geometric designs, the boy holding
a stick with a string connected to
a toy butterfly held in his sister’s
hand, a drum-shaped basket to
their feet and a hat lying on the
ground behind them.
Kimura Yonekichi (artist name
Shinmei/Masaaki) was a member
of the ivory group of the Tokyo
Chokokai (Tokyo Carvers’
Association) between Meiji 39 and
43 (1906-1910). He is listed in the
book History of Japanese Ivory
carving, The Shoto Museum, 1996.
HEIGHT 26.3 cm
Condition: Good condition with
some minor natural age cracks,
repairs to two butterfly wings and
the boy’s stick, a chip to the bijin’s
hairband.
Provenance: British collection.
Estimate EUR 2,500
Starting price EUR 1,250

174 | A MOTHER OF
PEARL-INLAID IVORY
OKIMONO OF A BIJIN
WITH TWO CHILDREN

Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)

The young beautiful lady holding a
little boy in the air, his arms flung
upwards in joy, with a second
child seated beside them, their
robes neatly incised with floral
and geometric designs and inlaid
in mother-of-pearl, a scroll and a
candleholder with a small ball on top
in front of them, all on a finely carved
three-part oval base incised with
floral and foliate patterns as well as
mythical beasts.

HEIGHT 23.4 cm
Condition: Excellent condition with
only few minor traces of wear.
Provenance: French private
collection.
Estimate EUR 1,500
Starting price EUR 750

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