Page 162 - Fine Chinese, Japanese and Buddhist Art September 28, 2018 Galerie Zacke
P. 162

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                                                                       A LARGE AND FINE JAPANESE                                                    A JAPANESE WOOD AND
                                                                       TUSK VASE DEPICTING                                                          IVORY INLAID LACQUER
                                                                       YAMABUSHI WARRIOR                                                            STANDING SCREEN BY
                                                                       PRIESTS BY KOZAN                                                             SHUNKO
                                                                       Japan, Meiji period (1868 - 1912)                                            Japan, 19  century
                                                                                                                                                          th
                                                                       Ivory with wood base                                                         Wood, lacquer, ivory, gold
                                                                       Finely carved in high relief are                                             A small, decorative tsuitate,
                                                                       three yamabushi warrior priests                                              inlaid with wood and ivory in a
                                                                       trekking through a mountainous                                               semi-sculptural manner showing
                                                                       landscape with pine trees, bamboo                                            grotesque scenes on both sides.
                                                                       and a waterfall. They have made a                                            One side shows a man struck
                                                                       stop while one navigates pointing                                            with horror by a small monster,
                                                                       upwards, another stands with a                                               reminiscent of a mokugyo temple
                                                                       staff in one hand and a war fan in                                           altar bell in its shape, but with
                                                                       the other and the last one is tying                                          eyes and paws. The man’s apron
                                                                       his laces. Their robes are intricately                                       features foliage decorations, his
                                                                       carved and adorned, the details are                                          belly appears like a monster’s
                                                                       stained with ink. Signature on the                                           head and he has dropped a hossu,
                                                                       base of the trunk of the prominent                                           a Buddhist attribute. The other
                                                                       pine tree – KOZAN with a red kao.                                            side shows a man and woman; the
                                                                       Inscription in ink on the inside;                                            bearded man has a long, cane-
                                                                       with original base.                                                          like nose resembling a tengu is
                                                                                                                                                    wearing a tatty umbrella as a hat.
                                                                       Shape: Elongated tusk shape                                                  His companion, with apish fur-like
                                                                       Dimensions: 22 cm (height without                                            skin, shows with animal heads and
                                                                       base), 23 cm (height with base)                                              carrying a heavy sack, is appalled.
                                                                       Condition: Good condition with                                               The details in this depiction are
                                                                       minor wear to staining and a                                                 finely crafted. This side also shows
                                                                       natural flaw to the rim of the base                                           the red painted signature SHUNKO
                                                                       Provenance: Austrian private                                                 ὲ ⬅ with a seal KO.
                                                                       collection
                                                                                                                                                    Shape: Square shaped screen on a
                                                                       Auction result comparison: For                                               two footed pedestal
                                                                       a pair of tusk vases in the same                                             Dimensions: 23.5 cm (height)
                                                                       style and quality see Bonhams,                                               Condition: Some chips on the
                                                                       Fine Japanese Art, 12 May 2016,                                              frame and few fine age-cracks;
                                                                       lot 637.                                                                     the images in very good condition
                                                                                                                                                    Provenance: Austrian private
                                                                       EstimateġEUR 1.000,-                                                         collection
                                                                       Starting price EUR 500,-
                                                                                                                                                    EstimateġEUR 1.000,-
                                                                                                                                                    Starting price EUR 500,-
















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