A GOOD JAPANESE IVORY CARVING

A GOOD JAPANESE IVORY CARVING, OKIMONO

MEIJI 1868-1912

Finely carved as a monkey gently holding a small snail, the primate resting and putting his weight on his left hand, with a benevolent expression on its face and smiling at the gastropod, its hair naturalistically carved, signed Komei with kao underneath for Ishikawa Komei (1852-1913), with a burr wood associated base, 17.5cm. (2)

Komei grew up in a family of wood sculptors and became popular for his traditional style reflecting his wish to protect Japanese art from Western influences. In 1881, he became a founding member of the Carvers' Foundation Committee - later renamed the Tokyo Carvers' Association- with the aim of encouraging fellow sculptors to create works in traditional Japanese style. He was later appointed Professor of the Sculpture Department at the Tokyo Art School (1891) and taught a new generation of artists. The resulting aesthetics, known today as the 'Tokyo School' style, display very high-quality craftsmanship whilst retaining the 'Japanese spirit' so dear to Komei.