Lot 314
314 A FINE IVORY OKIMONO OF A MAN AND ONI, the figure holding a basket of soya beans in one hand and throwing some with the other, standing with one foot raised on top of the demon, wearing robes decorated with flowerheads and foliage and a sword to the reverse, old collection label underneath, signed Togyokusai Toshiaki, late Edo/Meiji, 8¼" high
This carving probably depicts the tradition of throwing roasted soya beans on the last day of winter to slay demons.
Provenance: M. Papier Collection, no. 30. Private collection, West Dorset.
£2,000-4,000 315 AN IMPORTANT IVORY OKIMONO FIGURE GROUP depicting six male and two female figures climbing on a giant conch shell with a dragon emerging from the opening, old collection labels underneath, signed Uyemura or Ueki, late Edo/Meiji, 5½" hig This superb ivory carving was originally owned by Michael Tomkinson, who was one of the key Victorian collectors of Japanese art. It is recorded in the Tomkinson catalogue as a scene from the story of Shutendoji/Oeyama. However, it may also depict the spectre of 'Shusse-bora', the story of giant conch shells who live for three thousand years before being transformed into dragons. The figures climbing on the shell may be yamabushi (Shugendo practitioners) who are trying to capture some of the flesh in the hope of attaining long life.
Provenance: The Michael Tomkinson Collection, no. 12.
M. Papier Collection, no.28.
Private collection, West Dorset.
Literature: Michael Tomkinson "A Japanese Collection in Two Volumes", 1898, Vol.I, page 162
£3,000-6,000
186