A FINE WOOD OKIMONO OF ONO NO KOMACHI

拍品描述

A FINE WOOD OKIMONO OF ONO NO KOMACHI Japan, late 19th-early 20th century, Meiji period (1868-1912) Finely carved to depict Ono no Komachi, shown as an aged woman standing in a dynamic, slightly stooped pose, her head tilted as if caught in a moment of motion. She holds a wide-brimmed, tattered hat in one hand, while the other is raised, as if swept by the wind. Her hair is finely incised, flowing loosely over her shoulders, while her emaciated features are delicately carved, with bone-inlaid eyes and teeth. She is dressed in flowing robes, intricately detailed with deeply carved, cascading folds, and brilliantly carved to simulate wear and tears. The carving is imbued with a sense of brilliant movement, as one leg is slightly raised, and the foot appears to be falling out of the sandal, creating an effect of lifelike dynamism. The portrayal of Komachi, often seen as a symbol of the fleeting nature of beauty, conveys both fragility and strength in her old age, with the artist masterfully capturing the grace and poignancy of her character. HEIGHT 29 cm Ono no Komachi, a waka poet from the Heian period, was one of the Rokkasen (the six best waka poets of the early Heian period) and is renowned for both her extraordinary beauty and her tragic and complex relationships with her lovers. In legends, she is often portrayed as a withering, old woman, symbolizing the impermanence of beauty and the inevitable passage of time. This okimono captures her later years, emphasizing the themes of aging and mortality through the emaciated features and stooped pose. The delicate carving and the symbolic representation of her in this form reflect both the fragility of beauty and the timeless power of her poetic legacy. Auction comparison: Compare a related wood incense burner, similarly carved, by Meishinsai, Meiji period, depicting Sotoba Komachi, 55.3 cm wide, at Bonhams, Fine Japanese Works of Art, 17 September 2013, New York, lot 3090 (sold for USD 7,500 or approx. EUR 9,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).

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