Description
Japanese Okimono Carving
From our Japanese collection, we are pleased to offer this Japanese Meiji Period Wood Figure Okimono. The Okimono modelled as an elderly male holding two rabbits, one in each hand while another stands by the males feet. The okimono carved from wood with naturalistic detail with the male wearing traditional Japanese attire smiling humorously as he carries the rabbits. The Carved figure stud upon a raised wooden circular plinth and carved from a single piece of wood. The Okimono dates to the Meiji Period (1868-1912) circa 1910.
Okimono (置物) is a Japanese term meaning an ornament for display (objet d’art/decorative object).
Rabbit one of the 12 animals to feature in the Japanese Zodiac signs which follows the Chinese astrological system along with the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig. Such division is connected with the Jupiter cycle around the Sun, which lasts about 12 years. As 2023 is the year of the Rabbit we are happy to offer this fabulous carving to coincide with this celebratory year of the Rabbit. in Japanese culture, Rabbits represent fortune, moving forward and cleverness, and are also messengers for the kami or Gods.
Meiji Period was an era of Japanese history that spanned from 1868 to 1912. It was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people began to build a paradigm of a modern, industrialised nation state and emergent great power, influenced by Western countries and aesthetics. As a result of radically different ideas, the changes to Japan were profound and it affected the social structure, politics, economy, military, and foreign relations across the board. The period corresponded to the reign of Emperor Meiji and was preceded by the Keio era and was succeeded by the Taisho era.
Cultural Art during the Meiji Period was of particular interest to the government and they overhauled the art export market which in turn promoted Japanese arts via various world’s fairs, beginning in Vienna at the world fair in 1873. The government heavily funded the fairs and took an active role organising how Japan’s culture was presented to the world including creating a semi-public company named Kiritsu Kosho Kaisha (First Industrial Manufacturing Company). The Kiritsu Kosho Kaisha was used to promote and commercialise exports of Japanese art and established the Hakurankai Jimukyoku (Exhibition Bureau) to maintain quality standards. For the 1876 Centennial International Exhibition in Philadelphia, the Japanese government created a Centennial Office and sent a special envoy to secure space for the 30,000 items that would be displayed. The Imperial Household also took an active interest in arts and crafts, commissioning works by select artists to be given as gifts for foreign dignitaries further emphasising the high quality and importance of Japanese art. Just before the end of the 19th century in 1890, the Teishitsu Gigeiin (Artist to the Imperial Household) system was created to recognise distinguished artists. These artists were selected for their exceptionally high quality wares and talent in their own industry. Over a period of 54 years Seventy artists were appointed, amongst these were ceramicist Makuzu Kozan and cloisonné enamel artist Namikawa Yasuyuki.
Antique a collectable object such as a piece of furniture or work of art that has a high value because of its age and quality. Objects of this nature are generally considered antique at 100 plus years of age.
Measurements 30cm High x 10cm Wide x 9cm Deep (11.8 x 3.9 x 3.5 Inches)
Condition Very Good, small expansion crack to the base
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