Page 201 - Fine Japanese Art October 28, 2020 Galerie Zacke

187 | TOSHIMITSU: A MASTERFUL IVORY
OKIMONO OF THE BUNBUKU-CHAGAMA
By Shimamura Toshimitsu, signed Toshimitsu to
Japan, Tokyo, Meiji period (1868-1912)

Intricately carved and depicting a scene from the folktale Bunbuku-
Chagama (literally “Bunbuku tea-kettle”) about a tanuki being
mistreated as a tea-kettle at a temple, before being sold off and
bringing great wealth to its new owner using its shapeshifting
powers. This okimono shows the tanuki first revealing itself at the
temple, the kettle sprouting a head, tail, and legs, with the back
still in the form of the vessel with a round mouth and ring handles,
while a temple servant wearing an inlaid ebony hat and carrying a
mop on his back attempts to subdue him. Both the temple servant
and the tanuki are very expressive, the servant’s meticulously
carved and well-stained features betraying his nefarious intent.
Note also the detail to the temple servant’s fingers. Signed
TOSHIMITSU to (carved) to the tanuki’s belly.
HEIGHT 6.8 cm

Condition: Two toes on the servant’s left foot and one toe on the
right foot are chipped, also a loss to the mop handle below the belt;
otherwise in very good condition.
Provenance: British collection.
Estimate EUR 2,000
Starting price EUR 1,000

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