YOSHIOKA TOSEN: A RARE AND IMPRESSIVE DARK WOOD ‘IMMORTALS AND DUTCHMAN’ BOKUTO (DOCTOR’S WOOD)

拍品描述

YOSHIOKA TOSEN: A RARE AND IMPRESSIVE DARK WOOD ‘IMMORTALS AND DUTCHMAN’ BOKUTO (DOCTOR’S WOOD) By Yoshioka Tosen, signed choshi 彫師 Yoshioka Tosen 吉岡 東川 Japan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Superbly and boldly carved from dark wood, the bokuto depicts an intricate and lively composition of various immortals including Chokaro and Chinnan sennin, accompanied by a a Dutchman (Oranda-jin) at the center of the composition, the foreigner’s features rendered with exaggerated humor, with inlaid teeth and finely detailed, curling hair. Chinnan sennin is shown releasing a dragon from an alms bowl, the powerful mythical beast forming the hilt of the bokuto. Signed below the buffalo horn inlaid guard choshi YOSHIOKA TOSEN [carved by Yoshioka Tosen]. With a hook-form kurigata for suspension. LENGTH 51.6 cm During the Edo period, with the cessation of large-scale warfare, the wearing of arms gradually lost its practical function. The custom of carrying small, non-functional swords (bokuto) was adopted by physicians, artists, and other members of the educated classes as a symbol of status and refinement. By the 18th and 19th centuries, such objects evolved into increasingly abstract and decorative forms, as exemplified by the present piece.

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