| DESCRIPTION: Shown here is a gorgeous Japanese ivory page turner of substantial size and unusual quality. Shibayama is the Japanese art of inlaying shell, semi-precious stone or other materials into ivory and lacquer bases. In this piece, the artist used a rare variety of shibayama materials and carving techniques to demonstrate his skills. The handle of one side boasts a frog motif, with one green inlaid stone frog carrying an abalone lily pad, two recessed carved frogs, and a silver metal inlay of a frog in a cart being pulled by another frog. The blade on this same side is decorated with raised lacquer leaves and flowers among which are inlaid flowers of stone and mother of pearl, completed with inlaid stone insects.
The reverse side is decorated in a monkey motif with one monkey peering from within a recessed cave in the handle while an inlaid silver bird flies by overhead. A raised stone monkey seated upon a metallic moon is displayed on the blade in the midst of lacquer bamboo. With one long arm, the monkey reaches toward a lacquer crane flying above. The ivory itself has a wonderful, mellow patina and the piece as a whole is in excellent condition with no chips, no inlay losses, and only very minor rubbing to the lacquer. Meiji Period (1868 – 1912). DIMENSIONS: 15 ½” long (39.4 cm).
Price: $3,295 Stock #IVR172 |
