A PAIR OF JAPANESE EMBROIDERIES WITH BIG CATS

A PAIR OF JAPANESE EMBROIDERIES WITH BIG CATS
MEIJI ERA, 19TH/20TH CENTURY

One depicting a lion and lioness, the male looking straight at the viewer whilst his companion sleeps contentedly beside him; the other with two tigers looking to the right and baring their teeth; the animals rendered in warm honey and cream-coloured threads on the black silk grounds; both in their original remounted frames and glazed, both 42cm x 52.7cm overall. (2)

Provenance: from the collection of George Ottaway (1900-45), and thence by descent. Ottaway volunteered with the Royal Navy at 15 years old, quickly rising through the ranks and later becoming Petty Officer and Torpedo Man. He served on many famous ships including the Victory and Iron Duke and was selected in 1929 to accompany HRH Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester with the Garter Mission to Japan aboard HMS Suffolk, which is when he may have acquired this.