Shibuichi. Japan, 18th to 19th century
Masterfully carved depiction of a ni-o in kebori and katakiri. These are (lit. “two kings”), because of their aesthetically over-sized presentation, highly-respected guardians of temple gates. One of them displays an expressive face and waving garlands, with fingers spread in a protective gesture. Signature on the back, SETSU-ZAN, and kao. The name literally means “snow mountain” and is an artist pseudonym of Nagatsune from Kyoto.
LENGTH 9,5 CM
From the collection of Dr. Karl Florenz (1865-1939)
Dr. Karl Florenz was a renowned scholar, university professor and regarded as a pioneer of German Japanese studies. He resided in Japan from 1888 until the beginning of the First World War, then continued his lectures at the Hamburg Colonial Institute, never to return to Japan again. Famous for having translated several important Japanese books including the Nihongi, Japan’s oldest official historical text, he was awarded the Japanese doctor title in literature. His extensive collection was largely destroyed by air strikes in the Second World War (which he himself did not live to witness), however, most tsuba etc. survived in relatively good condition. Dr. Florenz primarily collected tsubas, most of which are from the 18th cent. and quite evidently made an effort to explore a wide range of motifs.