Page 52 - Fine Japanese Art October 28, 2020 Galerie Zacke

36 | MARUKI COMPANY: AN EXCEPTIONAL
AND LARGE PARCEL-GILT AND SILVERED
OKIMONO OF A CHIN DOG
By the Maruki Company, signed Maruki shachu seisaku
Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)

Naturalistically modeled seated, one front paw on the ground and the
other slightly raised, looking down with gilt-rimmed pupils and showing
a quizzical expression, wearing a gilt ruff around the neck tied at the
back in a bow, its bushy tail sweeping around to its left hind leg. Signed
MARUKI SHACHU SEISAKU (Made by the Maruki Company) within a
square reserve on the underside.

The Japanese Chin also known as the Japanese Spaniel, is a dog
acknowledged for its importance to Japanese nobility. The dogs have
a dot or a line on their forehead, which is associated with the touch of
Buddha. While most believe that the source breed for the Japanese
Chin originated in China, the route by which the Chin arrived in Japan
is a widely debated topic. One story claims that the dogs were given to
the Japanese royalty in AD 732 as gifts from the rulers of Korea. Others
maintain that they were given as gifts to the Empress of Japan as early
as the middle of the sixth century or by the seventh century.
With an associated wood base as well as a small bronze okimono of a
tortoise.
LENGTH dog 27.5 cm, HEIGHT total 25.5 cm, HEIGHT dog 17.5 cm
WEIGHT dog 5,076 g, WEIGHT tortoise 157.1 g

Condition: Excellent condition with only few minor traces of wear.
Provenance: British collection.
Auction comparison:
Compare with a dark-patinated bronze okimono of a bear from
the Maruki Company sold by Bonhams, Ancient Skills, New Worlds
Twenty Treasures of Japanese Metalwork From A Private Collection, 12
September 2018, New York, lot 19 (sold for 21,250 USD).
Estimate EUR 15,000
Starting price EUR 7,500

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