Page 159 - Bonhams Japanese art nov 7 2024

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AN INLAID BRONZE LARGE CHARGER The boy’s headdress, adorned with a plume, along with his striking
Meiji era (1868-1912), late 19th/20th century earring and boots, evokes the imagery of nomadic Mongols and
Finely cast, engraved, textured and carved, supported on a short Jurchens as depicted in Edo period art. The visual sources for Mongol
footring, meticulously worked in high relief silver, bronze, gold, and Jurchen dress might have been from earlier encyclopaedias such
copper, and shakudo inlays depicting a karako (‘Chinese boy’) clad as the Wakan sansai zue (published in 1712) which refers to a desolate
in diaphanous robes emblazoned with shishi (Chinese Mythical Lion) and isolated place known as ‘Orankai’ which could be ‘Uriankhai’
roundels and ruyi-head clouds, his arms outstretched reaching for referring to an area in Mongolia. See for example, Hokusai’s depiction
two dragonflies fluttering in the air, his round jovial face beneath a of Jurchen dress, illustrated by T. Clark, Hokusai: The Great Picture
plumed Jurchen headdress, all within an elegant balustraded garden Book of Everything, London, British Museum, 2021, p.71. See also
setting sheltered beneath arching pine branches, flowering peonies Hokusai’s depiction of ‘Fuji from Orankai’ with people similarly dressed
and rocks behind, a tasselled insect cage on the lower left foreground, in earrings and plumed hats, illustrated by H. D. Smith, Hokusai: One
an elaborate dragon-decorated koro (incense burner) displayed on a Hundred Views of Mount Fuji, New York, Braziller, 1988, p.215, no.73.
Chinese cabriole-legged stand on the right, Taihu rocks, all surrounded However, the surrounding balustraded garden, complete with an
by a band of stylised birds among interwoven foliate scrolls; unsigned. elegant incense stand further supporting a vase with a dragon, gnarled
4.5cm x 60cm (1¾in x 23½in). rocks, trees, and peonies, leans more towards a Chinese aesthetic
than a steppe one, creating a compelling sense of exoticism and
£6,000 - 8,000 foreign allure.
JPY1,200,000 - 1,600,000
US$7,900 - 10,000

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue. SAMURAI · SNOW · SPECTACLE | 157