A MASSIVE AND SUPERB WOOD OKIMONO OF JUROJIN AND... Lot n° 21

A MASSIVE AND SUPERB WOOD OKIMONO OF JUROJIN AND MINOGAME Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912) Boldly carved as the Lucky God Jurojin wearing an elaborately carved, loose-fitted robe with a cowl draped over his elongated head, the hands holding a partially opened scroll which gently supports a minogame scrambling to clamber over the deity’s legs. Jurojin is depicted laughing at the antics of the thousand-year-turtle, his long finely carved beard flowing down to his chest. HEIGHT 55 cm WEIGHT 12.3 kg Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear and natural age-related cracks. Beautiful, naturally grown patina. Provenance: From the collection of Hisazo Nagatani, and thence by descent within the family. Hisazo Nagatani (1905-1994) was a Japanese-American collector, scholar, and noted dealer of Asian art. Growing up near his birthplace Osaka, he developed a passion for Asian art early on and joined Yamanaka & Co. in 1922, at the age of only 17. He soon moved to Beijing, traveling throughout China, and handling bronzes, porcelains, jades, and other works of art, before relocating to the United States. He eventually became the manager of the Yamanaka gallery on the Magnificent Mile in Chicago until the firm had to cease operations in the United States. In 1944, he opened his own gallery, Nagatani & Co., which flourished for many decades, selling to important collectors such as Robert Mayer, Stephen Junkunc, Avery Brundage, and the Alsdorfs. Nagatani later donated many of his works of art and his important library to various museums. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related wood okimono of Hotei, at Galerie Zacke, Fine Japanese Art, 28 October 2020, Vienna, lot 163 ( sold for EUR 7,584).