Live Auction 13127Art of Japan
A Fine Carved Wood Okimono in the Form of a Snake Entwined around a Skull
Lot 20 The Property of a Private Swiss Collector

A Fine Carved Wood Okimono in the Form of a Snake Entwined around a Skull

Signed Dai Nihon Sentei Sukeyuki (Izumi Sukeyuki, 1838–1920), Meiji period (late 19th century)

Closed8 December 2016

Price Realised

GBP 11,875

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A Fine Carved Wood Okimono in the Form of a Snake Entwined around a Skull
Signed Dai Nihon Sentei Sukeyuki (Izumi Sukeyuki, 1838–1920), Meiji period (late 19th century)
The realistically modelled skull with a snake entwined around it, the details finely carved and incised, the snake’s eyes inlaid with cut shell, the tongue movable
12 cm. high

Specialist note

Izumi Sukeyuki lived in the town of Bamba in Omi Province; present day Shiga Prefecture. He was a master carver of family Buddhist alters and on a visit to Hida-Takayama he was impressed by the work of Sukemizu who carved okimono and netsuke, and he then decided to begin carving similar works.