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Lot Essay
This is the work of a Tanaka Tadayoshi, a modern metal artist active in the Taisho and Showa periods and known for his articulated sculptures. Tadayoshi apprenticed in the Kyoto workshop of Takase Kozan (1869-1934), who directed the mass-production of ornamental iron pieces for both domestic and international markets. A very large number of metal pieces from the Edo to modern period bear the name Muneyoshi, from the Myochin lineage of metalworkers, but among them lobsters are rare.
Ise ebi (spiny lobster) was one of the preferred subjects of Japanese art as the spiny and hard shell of lobster looks like elaborate Samurai’s armor. The characters of ebi 海老in Japanese literately means ‘old man of ocean’ which represents longevity. For this reason, the spiny lobster is also considered as auspicious and often served as osechi ryori (special cuisine for New Year).
Ise ebi (spiny lobster) was one of the preferred subjects of Japanese art as the spiny and hard shell of lobster looks like elaborate Samurai’s armor. The characters of ebi 海老in Japanese literately means ‘old man of ocean’ which represents longevity. For this reason, the spiny lobster is also considered as auspicious and often served as osechi ryori (special cuisine for New Year).