Inro.
Late 18th century. Signed with a red lacquer seal Shiomi Masanari.
Dimensions 81x71 mm.
Ex Walter Lionel Behrens collection.
Ex Paul Corbin collection.
Three case inro with an ox (ushi) and his young attendant (ushidoji). The
boy is sleeping with his head leaning on a basket and a scythe at his feet. Decoration in
different colours in togidashi on gold fundame ground. Interior in nashiji.
The subject is often associated with the teaching of Zen Buddhism where the sleep of
the boy and the ox represent the victory of serenity over confusion. Illustrated in: Henry
L. Joly, W. L. Behrens Collection Part II Lacquer and Inro. London 1913-14 (reprint
New York 1966). Plate 20thXIV, no.617
Similar examples are illustrated in:
Klaus J. Brandt, Inro Gurtelschmiich des Japaners aus Bestanden des Linden-Museum
Stuttgart. Pforzheim 1988, no.26.
Eskenazi, Japanese lacquer-ware from the Verbrugge collection. London 1989, no.5.
Eskenazi, The Charles A. Greenfield collection of Japanese lacquer. London 1990,
no.113.
Julia Hutt, Japanese inro. (Victoria & Albert Museum). London 1997, no.86.
None of these examples incorporate in the design the scythe near the basket.
The inro in the Stuttgart Museum is closer to this example and is signed with the
same seal.
Ojime in cloisonné enamel.
Ivory netsuke of a sleeping boy with a basket of flowers on his shoulders.
Unsigned. Second half 18th century.
Item no. S201
(Sold)
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