A gold lacquer and Shibayama-inlaid miniature tsuitate
Meiji Period
Decorated in gold and iro-e takamakie, aogai, and ivory with the noh character Kikujido shown as a youth holding a sprig of chrysanthemums in one hand and a writing brush in the other, the reverse with a pair of butterflies hovering above a sprig of kiku lying beside a Chinese fan and a kaku-makura, all within an ivory frame supported on an elaborately-carved wood stand; unsigned.
18½cm (7¼in) high.
Decorated in gold and iro-e takamakie, aogai, and ivory with the noh character Kikujido shown as a youth holding a sprig of chrysanthemums in one hand and a writing brush in the other, the reverse with a pair of butterflies hovering above a sprig of kiku lying beside a Chinese fan and a kaku-makura, all within an ivory frame supported on an elaborately-carved wood stand; unsigned.
18½cm (7¼in) high.
Sold for
£2,400
inc. premium
Footnotes
- 菊児童図芝山象嵌金蒔絵小衝立 明治時代
Kikujidô was an attendant and favourite of the 10th century BC Chinese Emperor Mu Wang. Rivals forced his exile due to a minor transgression to which the motif of the pillow alludes. According to legend, some jealous rival reported Kikujido inadvertently touching the Emperor's pillow with his foot. But before banishing him the Emperor taught him a magical sentence from the historical Buddha to protect Kikujidô from harm. He wrote this phrase on chrysanthemum leaves that floated down the river back to civilization. Water that washed the writing off the leaves became an elixir of everlasting youth.
Lot heading
Lacquer and Shibayama-inlaid works of art
The Property of a Lady
The Property of a Lady
Category: Asian Art / Japanese Art
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