An Edo school ivory netsuke of Eguchi no kimi, by Shôunsai. Mid 19th century - image-1

Lot 794 Dα

An Edo school ivory netsuke of Eguchi no kimi, by Shôunsai. Mid 19th century

Auction 1044 - overview Cologne
06.12.2014, 10:30 - The Kolodotschko Collection of Netsuke, Japanese Art
Estimate: 500 € - 800 €
Result: 744 € (incl. premium)

An Edo school ivory netsuke of Eguchi no kimi, by Shôunsai. Mid 19th century

The courtesan sits on a reclining elephant, with an unrolled scroll resting on her obi. Signed Shôunsai.
Height 4 cm

In the nô drama “Eguchi no kimi” a courtesan by the same name is the reincarnation of Fugen Bosatsu. She offered Saigyô Hôshi “shelter for one moment”, who on a rainy night was travelling through Eguchi in Settsu province, and they exchanged poems with many Buddhist allusions. The subject was reinterpreted by ukiyo-e artists as mitate (travesty) showing Eguchi no kimi on an elephant, the vehicle of Fugen Bosatsu.

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