.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
Weathered skulls are emblematic of the evanescence of life, a memento mori that fascinated an artist steeped in the culture of Zen Buddhism. This subject was often called nozarashi and especially favored by the samurai class as they were meant to be prepared for death at any time.
Izumi Sukeyuki lived in the town of Bamba in Omi province; present day Shiga Prefecture. He was a master carver of family Buddhist altars and on a visit to Hida-Takayama, he was impressed by the work of Sukemizu, who carved models and netsuke, and he then decided to begin carving similar works. Sukeyuki was good at carving skull, snake and toad and he won a prize at the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago in 1893.
Izumi Sukeyuki lived in the town of Bamba in Omi province; present day Shiga Prefecture. He was a master carver of family Buddhist altars and on a visit to Hida-Takayama, he was impressed by the work of Sukemizu, who carved models and netsuke, and he then decided to begin carving similar works. Sukeyuki was good at carving skull, snake and toad and he won a prize at the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago in 1893.