CHOKAN: A LACQUER KOGO AND COVER OF AN OX-HERDER AND OX

CHOKAN: A LACQUER KOGO AND COVER OF AN OX-HERDER AND OX By Sano Chokan (1794-1856), signed Chokan Japan, 19 th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Of circular shape with a domed cover, the gold-sprinkled roiro ground superbly decorated in iro-e takamaki-e, depicting the sixth poem of the Ten Ox Herding Pictures (jugyu), with the young ox-herder playing the flute while seated in a relaxed pose atop the massive bull, with eyes inlaid in mother-of-pearl and horns inlaid with shell, his long flowing robe neatly decorated with stylized flowerheads. The countersunk base signed CHOKAN. DIAMETER 7.9 cm Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear. Provenance: Ex-collection Okimoro Gen’ichi (according to the wood storage box). Okimoro Gen’ichi (1899-1951) was a politician who served as governor of Saga Prefecture between 1947-1951. With a wood storage box inscribed Saga ken chiji, Okimori Gen'ichi shi yori torai, fujin Takuyo sama (This work belonged to Mr Okimori Gen'ichi, who was governor of Saga Prefecture, and his wife Takuyo). On succeeding his father at age 21, the eccentric Kyoto-based artist Sano Chokan undertook an extensive countrywide tour of centers of the lacquer industry, returning home in 1822 to revive the family business, specializing in tea-ceremony wares, trays, and other tableware. Chokan called himself a lacquer artisan and was a master who held absolute confidence in the quality of his works. The artist is listed in Wrangham, E. A. (1995) The Index of Inro Artists, p. 40. Ten Bulls or Ten Ox Herding Pictures (jugyu) is a series of short poems and accompanying drawings used in the Zen tradition to describe the stages of a practitioner’s progress toward enlightenment, and their return to society to enact wisdom and compassion. Auction comparison: Another work by this artist was sold at Bonhams, The Misumi Collection of Important Works of Lacquer Art and Paintings, 5 November 2014, London, lot 16 ( sold for 13,750 GBP ).