Details
A Rare Zushi And Another
Edo Period (Late 17th/early 18th Century)
The case kuronuri, with gilt copper kanamono, finely decorated in nanako and kebori with karakusa, the wisteria mon of the Okubo family applied to the mount at the centre of the doors, the four hinges made in the form of the same mon, the two-tiered mount for the cord-ring in the form of a chrysanthemum, the main figure of the shrine is of the fox goddess Inari Daimyojin, finely carved in sandalwood and holding a ken in her right hand and a tama in her left, seated on a fox, which has a double-headed vajra in its mouth and a tama on the end of its tail, another fox (the tail of which is missing) surmounts the headdress of the goddess, the figure supported by a cloud-wreathed cylindrical pedestal with a gilt-metal sheet visible behind a carving of the horin [wheel of the Buddhist law], beneath this a lotus throne in several layers, which have at some time been reassembled, the main one upside down, the base-tier of the throne carved with masks and mythical beasts and the surface of the interior of the zushi, behind the figure, decorated with lightning and clouds on a gold leaf ground, beneath a lotus petal canopy, of equal importance to the carved figure are the doors of the shrine, elaborately lacquered with twenty-six bodhisatta, many with musical instruments including cymbals, sho, taiko, biwa, flute, koto and rattles on the left hand door and with mikoshi and various implements on the right hand door, the figures executed in gold and silver usuniku-takamakie, with details applied in red and black lacquer, several carved wooden panels from the pedestal of the throne missing and the top of the zushi repaired; and another with a black lacquer case enclosing a standing figure of Kannon, the interior gilded and the doors decorated with lotus petal karakusa
5.1/8in. (13cm.) and 4in. (10cm.) high respectively (2)
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