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A metal saya inro Attributed to Yokoya Somin, 19th century image 1
A metal saya inro Attributed to Yokoya Somin, 19th century image 2
Lot 256*

A metal saya inro
Attributed to Yokoya Somin, 19th century

11 May 2010, 10:30 BST
London, New Bond Street

£9,000 - £12,000

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A metal saya inro

Attributed to Yokoya Somin, 19th century
The silvered metal saya engraved to one side with a walking elephant and its young calf on the other beneath three archaic characters, all in delicate katakiri and kebori, inscribed Somin with kao; the inner three-case inro bearing a yasurime ground, lacquered with the elegant figure of the courtesan Eguchi no Kimi with a waka poem in gold and coloured togidashi; with metal ojime in the form of a kongo, unsigned, and kagamibuta, the wood bowl bearing a shibuichi plate inlaid with a resting priest in sumie-zogan, signed Zeraku with kao; with wood storage box. 5.4cm (2 1/8in) high. (2).

Footnotes

江口の君図鞘印籠 銘宗珉(伝横谷宗珉) 19世紀

The waka poem is by the priest-poet Saigyo and is famous for being used in the Noh play Eguchi. The inscription of the poem reads:

Yo no naka wo / itou made koso / katakara me / kari no yadori wo / osimu kimi kana

Although difficult to hate this world / and leave all desires behind / still, how can you begrudge [me] a room for one night.

Additional information

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