† OZAKI KOKUSAI: A SUPERB ANTLER NYOI SCEPTER By... Lot 61

† OZAKI KOKUSAI: A SUPERB ANTLER NYOI SCEPTER By Ozaki Kokusai (1835-1892), sealed Kokusai Japan, Shiba, Tokyo, mid to late 19th century Finely carved as a nyoi scepter with reishi fungus on the stem, the head detailed with a baku-snouted water dragon, its single eye inlaid in black buffalo horn. The dragon wraps around the fungus head, encircling a pointy double-gourd with a Buddhist swastika character and the yin-yang symbol above a hatched ground. The head is pierced with a small aperture near the edge. The upper end of the scepter with a key-fret border. The base is pierced and carved with the inome motif also known as the boar’s eye badge of courage. Signed to the stem within an oval reserve in sunken relief KOKUSAI. LENGTH 39.3 cm Condition: Excellent condition with typical ‘flaws’ to the material. With an associated modern metal base. The Buddhist swastika character, known as ‘ban’ or ‘manji’, in Chinese as 'wan', can be literally translated as ‘ten thousand’. It expresses a wish for a near-immortal long life. Literature comparison: A closely related antler nyoi scepter, also with a water dragon reishi head, is illustrated in Moss, Sydney L. (2016) Kokusai The Genius: and Stag-antler Carving in Japan, vol. II, pp. 434-435, no. 319. Another related antler nyoi scepter, also with a water dragon reishi head, is illustrated in Moss, Sydney L. (2016) Kokusai The Genius: and Stag-antler Carving in Japan, vol. II, pp. 430-431, no. 317. Another related antler nyoi scepter, also with a water dragon reishi head, is illustrated in Moss, Sydney L. (2016) Kokusai The Genius: and Stag-antler Carving in Japan, vol. II, pp. 428-429, no. 316. 13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium - only for buyers within the EU.