Page 44 - 2021 March 16th Japanese and Korean Art, Christie's New York City

27 MITSUTA HARUO (B. 1980)

Tobizu mukade (Scolopendra

subspinipes mutilans)

The copper and brass articulated sculpture of
a centipede finely constructed of numerous
hammered parts jointed togather with
movable head, mouth, antennae, limbs, body
and tail
5¿ in. (13 cm.) long
With original wood box sealed Mitsuda Haruo

$5,000-6,000

Despites its grotesque appearance, the centipede
is often associated with good luck and success
in business as its many limbs imply the idea of
“countless customers”. Also regarded as a messenger
of the Shinto gods, it was favored by merchants and
often used in noren (shop curtain) design, like those
depicted in the notable Edo period screens Rakuchu
rakugai zu (Scenes In and Around the Capital).