A silver model of a recumbent ram

Taisho period (early 20th century), signed Yoshimori (Unno Bisei; 1864-1919)

Details

A silver model of a recumbent ram
Taisho period (early 20th century), signed Yoshimori (Unno Bisei; 1864-1919)
The silver sheep dynamically cast and chiseled, the eyes embellished with inlaid gold and shakudo, signature on base
7 ¼ in. (18.4 cm.) long
With original wood box titled jungin sei hitsuji okimono (pure silver sculpture of a sheep) and signed bijutsu gakko kyoju Unno Yoshimori saku (made by Unno Yoshimori, professor of Tokyo Art School)

Lot Essay

Yoshimori is a son of Unno Moritoshi (1834-1896) and he apprenticed in the studio if Unno Shomin. He also studied painting under Sakai Doitsu (1761-1828) and Kawanabe Kyosai (1831-1889). In 1898, he was appointed as a professor at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts.
For similar models of ram by Ishikawa Komei in the collection of Kiyomisu Sannenzaka Museum, see Murata Masayuki, ed., Takamura Koun and Ishikawa Komei (Kyoto: Kiyomizu Sannenzaka Museum, 2011), pp. 14-15.

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