A walrus tusk okimono of a skull. Late 19th century - image-1
A walrus tusk okimono of a skull. Late 19th century - image-2
A walrus tusk okimono of a skull. Late 19th century - image-1A walrus tusk okimono of a skull. Late 19th century - image-2

Lot 54 Dα

A walrus tusk okimono of a skull. Late 19th century

Auction 1136 - overview Cologne
07.06.2019, 11:00 - Japanese Art (Decorative Arts, Paintings, Woodcut Prints)
Estimate: 9.000 € - 10.000 €
Result: 16.120 € (incl. premium)

A walrus tusk okimono of a skull. Late 19th century

With large eye sockets and an upper row of teeth, a snake coiled on the top of the skull, and three toads and two frogs clambering about. The number 95 to the underside in black lacquer. One tooth chipped.
Height 5.7 cm

The subject alludes to the sansukumi, literally the Three Cringing Ones, the three animals snake, snail and frog, that spell death onto another. Sansugumi is an allegory of retribution.

Provenance

Christie's, London, 29.6.1886 (according to the consignor)
Galerie Flachsmann, Kronberg