Ivory Carving - Geisha carrying a Parasol - Meiji - Tokyo School

Antiques > Ivories Dealer: Smokee's Contact: Henry Hebing - Email Dealer
Shipping inside United States: $1,000.00 Shipping outside United States: Quoted at time of purchase

Description: AUCTION ESTIMATE = $55,000 - ULTRA RARE TOKYO SCHOOL CARVING of a GEISHA carrying a PARASOL by HODO - 17" - 8 POUNDS! This is an incredible Tokyo School Japanese ivory okimono of a Geisha wearing a kimono. The obi on her back is beautifully decorated in relief with waterwheel designs and dragon roundels. She stands and holds an incredibly well carved and extremely intricate parasol. This monumental piece was carved during the Meiji Period (1868 - 1912). Tokyo School carvings of this theme and quality are impossible to find for sale anymore. The finest carvings to come from Japan were from the Tokyo School of Art founded in 1887 with the aim of combining traditional skills and Western influences. Tokyo School carvings are generally quite large and carved from a single section of tusk. In 1890 the government implemented the system of Imperial Court Craftsmen whereby the Imperial Household accorded honor and protection to master craftsmen. Let's take a close look at the stunning details of this marvelous carving. Her facial features are absolutely magnificent. Her hair is beautifully done and cascades down the back of her neck. She has a tree peony in her hair that is done in an elaborate Geisha hairstyle. The elaborate detailing in her hair gives you an indication of the skill of the artist. Please note not only the details of the flower but also the fine details of the hair itself. Please notice how delicate and detailed her fingers are as they wrap around the handle of the parasol. The folds in her kimono are a work of art in and of themselves. It takes a special artist to bring such a sense of realism to this outstanding work of art. Please note how the artist has even carried forward the folds in her kimono to the back of her garment and how the lovely flowers circumvent and adorn the entire carving. At the base of this carving please take careful note of the leaves that lay at the feet of our beautiful geisha. Also note how the artist has been very meticulous in the carving her sandals. The rarity of this marvelous carving adds to its overall mystique and desirability. The amazing detail indicates this is the work of a true master carver. This is a piece of Japanese art that you will probably never again have a chance to acquire and the quality of this work of art is at the very pinnacle of Japanese ivory okimono carvings. It is impossible to express in words just how beautiful this carving is. It is signed by the extremely gifted artist Hodo on the underside of the base. This carving is 100% genuine elephant IVORY and in EXCELLENT CONDITION. It was HAND CARVED and HAND SCRIMSHAWED and SIGNED in Japan by the gifted master craftsman Hodo in the late 1800s. It has a lovely patina that nature has chosen to bestow upon it. This okimono is UNIQUE and exhibits beautiful IVORY GRAIN which is guaranteed to be clearly visible. The ivory has been highly polished and exquisitely detailed. The quality of the ivory, the quality of the carving and the quality of the scrimshaw work are all exceptional. This carving was legally imported into the USA and can only be shipped to locations within the USA. In January of 2006 Columbus (the experts in Asian art) provided an auction estimate on this piece of $55,000. In their description of this piece, they stated: "This is spectacular and at 17” high a rarity..." Auction estimates are conservative and typically well below appraised values. This superb Tokyo School carving will unquestionably serve as the centerpiece of your Japanese ivory okimono collection for many years to come and should steadily increase in value over the years. Dimensions: 17.00" x 5.00" x 4.50" Weight: 8 Pounds Signature: Hodo

Status: Off Market	Reference#: O_214
Condition: See Description	Year: See Description
Country: Japan	Maker: Hodo
Height: 17.00 in. (43.18 cm)	Depth: 4.50 in. (11.43 cm)
Width: 5.00 in. (12.70 cm)	Weight: 8.00
Style: Tokyo School
Materials: Ivory

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