Old "okimono": liondog "koma-inu", late 19th century ·  Japan · ID: 3039262

Description

ivory, black pigment, rising from rectangular base with peony decor, signature at the bottom of the base “Gyokusan”, slightly dam. (tip of tail);
a pair of sculptures of beasts were frequently placed on the veranda of shrine buildings or in the garden at the front, intended to protect the shrine. They represent a chinese lion with open mouth “shishi” and a lion dog with closed mouth “koma-inu”. Originally larger in size they were depicted as “okimono” (lit.: “decorative object”) in miniature form as well. The “okimono” developed from “netsuke” carving, when in the 19th century european clothing came into fashion and therefore “netsuke” became redundant.

The object Old “okimono”: liondog “koma-inu”, late 19th century with the object ID 3039262 was last part of the auction 81st Tribal Art Auction at October 31, 2015 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 43 achieved a sales price of EUR 500.

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Comparing literature

Harris, Victor (ed.), Shinto, The sacred Art of Ancient Japan, London 2001, p. 146 ff.