EDO PERIOD (18TH/19TH CENTURY)

Details

TWO UNUSUAL INRO AND AN IVORY KISERUZUTSU [PIPECASE]
Edo Period (18th/19th Century)
A three-case inro, in the shape of a water-jar; red lacquer ground; decoration in gold, aokin, silver and red hiramaki-e and takamaki-e with gold flakes; compartments and risers gold nashiji; shoulders and rims gold lacquer, unsigned
On one side Shiba Onko and another boy throwing stones to smash a hole in the side of the jar to save their friend from drowning; on the other side the friend emerging in a torrent of water
And a two-case inro, of exaggerated lenticular profile; red lacquer ground sprinkled with gold dust; decoration in gold, aokin, silver and red hiramaki-e; compartments and risers black lacquer; shoulders and rims gold lacquer; unsigned
On one side a lion-dancer admired by a toddler; on the other an itinerant vendor of bamboo tea-whisks with his wares on a stick over his shoulder, beating on a gourd to attract attention
And a pipecase carved in sunk relief with Raijin, releasing a storm from his bag and directing it towards a courtesan standing by a lamp, signed in incised characters at one end Shuzan (Akiyama) with a seal Koku
3 5/8in. (9.2cm.) and 2 3/8in. (6cm.) high and 8¾ in. (22.2 cm) long respectively (3)

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

The Chinese statesman Shiba Onko (usually known in Chinese as Sima Guang, 1009-1086) attracted attention as a child for the intelligent way he rescued a friend who had fallen into a giant water-jar. The motif became immensely popular in Chinese and Japanese art and is even seen on 18th-century English porcelain.

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