Page 212 - Fine Japanese Art October 28, 2020 Galerie Zacke

204 | EISAI: AN IMPRESSIVE IVORY OKIMONO
OF A BASKET AND DRUM SELLER
By Eisai, signed Eisai
Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)

The street vendor standing in his waraji on the semi-
naturalistically carved base, carrying over his shoulder
a bamboo pole from which numerous wares are
suspended, comprising various densely piled baskets
and drums, most carved in openwork and decorated
with inlays of mother-of-pearl and red lacquer, his finely
detailed face showing an exhausted expression from
the heavy load, his robes neatly incised with geometric
designs, signed in a rectangular tsuishu-lacquer reserve
EISAI to the base.
HEIGHT 21.5 cm
Condition: Good condition with traces of wear, some old
repairs and minor losses to the baskets, several small
natural age cracks, all as expected.
Provenance: British collection.
AUCTION
COMPARISON
For a related okimono of larger
size by Josetsu, see Bonhams,
Fine Japanese Art, 17 May
2012, London, lot 173
(sold for 4,750 GBP).

Estimate EUR 2,000
Starting price EUR 1,000

205 | AN AMUSING IVORY OKIMONO
OF A VEGETABLE SELLER
Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)

The street vendor carrying heavy baskets full of beets,
turnips, radishes, and lotus roots attached to a pole,
an expression of pure exhaustion on his face, the bent
pole also indicating that his load is too heavy to bear.
Furthermore, it appears as if the street vendor made a
miscalculation as the baskets on the back are lower than
those in the front and about to crush a turnip below on
the ground.
HEIGHT 16.8 cm

Condition: The inlaid signature tablet has been lost and
replaced with a square mother-of-pearl plaque, otherwise
in excellent condition with only few minor traces of wear.
Provenance: British collection.
Estimate EUR 2,000
Starting price EUR 1,000

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