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Lot Essay
A pair of pillows with a similar design worked by Koami Choju (1599-1651) is in the collection of the Tokugawa Art Museum. The set of pillows is part of the lacquer works accompanied Chiyohime (1637-1699), the eldest daughter of Tokugawa Iemitsu (1601-1651), when she was married to Tokugawa Mitsutomo (1625-1700) in 1639, known as Hatsune no chodo (set of lacquer works with the motif of 'The First Warbler' from the Tale of Genji) which is registered as a national treasure. There is another lacquer accessory box by Koami Choju in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum, image accessible online at https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/40472?ft=koami+choju&offset=0&rpp=40&pos=1
The baku is a mythological animal resembling a cross between an elephant and a horse, with clawed feet and an ox's tail. Baku were thought to eat bad dreams, and the creature's name was sometimes written on pillows to prevent bad dreams. Baku imagery was sometimes incorporated into the decoration of pillows.
The baku is a mythological animal resembling a cross between an elephant and a horse, with clawed feet and an ox's tail. Baku were thought to eat bad dreams, and the creature's name was sometimes written on pillows to prevent bad dreams. Baku imagery was sometimes incorporated into the decoration of pillows.