A POLYCHROME WOOD FIGURE OF SEITAKA DOJI Lot n° 40

A POLYCHROME WOOD FIGURE OF SEITAKA DOJI Japan, 16th-17th century, Muromachi (1333-1573) to early Edo period (1615-1868) Finely painted in polychrome pigments and gilt over gesso, the guardian attendant standing, wearing a long flowing robe with deeply carved folds, foliate hems, and floral roundels, a scarf draped over his shoulders, adorned with armbands, bracelets, and anklets, his face with a stern expression, the eyes inlaid in reverse-painted crystal, the curled hair tied at the front. HEIGHT 30 cm Condition: Good condition with some wear and small losses to pigments and gilt, few minuscule nicks, occasional light scratches. Provenance: French private collection. Mounted on an associated metal base of square form. Seitaka Doji is one of the two boy attendants of Fudo Myo-o (the Immovable or Unshakable One). Sculptural triads of these figures exist from the late Heian period (794–1185). In these triads, Seitaka Doji has a troll-like appearance, which contrasts with the placid features of his fellow attendant, Kongara Doji. Museum comparison: Compare a related lacquered wood figure of Seitaka Doji, together with Kongara Doji, 34.3 cm high, dated ca. 1350, in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 2018.17.1, .2. Auction comparison: Compare a related lacquered wood figure of Seitaka Doji, dated 14th century, 17.1 cm high, at Christie’s, 25 April 2017, New York, lot 6 (sold for 5,625 USD). Compare a closely related polychrome wood figure of Seitaka Doji, dated to the Muromachi period, 16th century, 30.8 cm high, at Bonhams, 22 July 2020, New York, lot 988 (bought-in at an estimate of 4,000-5,000 USD).