AN IRON ARTICUALTED SCULPTURE OF A TURTLE
Lot 7 PROPERTY FROM A PRINCELY COLLECTION

AN IRON ARTICUALTED SCULPTURE OF A TURTLE

EDO PERIOD (18TH-19TH CENTURY), SIGNED UMETADA

Closed21 September 2021

Price Realised

USD 18,750

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AN IRON ARTICUALTED SCULPTURE OF A TURTLE
EDO PERIOD (18TH-19TH CENTURY), SIGNED UMETADA
The iron turtle constructed of numerous hammered plates jointed inside the body, hinged jaw opening to reveal a movable tongue, eyes, limbs and claws move, the tail retractable, the details finely carved and chiseled, signature on the undersides of rear limbs
4 ½ in. (11.4 cm.) long

Robert Winter Japanese Art, Kyoto

Specialist note

This articulated sculpture of a turtle appears to be very unique.
In Japanese symbolism, the turtle is often associated with longevity and common auspicious image together with crane. The turtle is also a popular subject in Japanese painting and prints, notably by Katsushika Hokusai and Utagawa Hiroshige. The latter had and the famous print with an image of turtle in his significant series Meisho Edo hyakkei (One hundred famous views of Edo) in 1857 (fig.1).