A JAPANESE SILVER OKIMONO OF A MINOGAME

A JAPANESE SILVER OKIMONO OF A MINOGAME
MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH OR 20TH CENTURY

The mythical turtle depicted with long seaweed growing from the top of its shell and trailing behind it, its head slightly turned to the left and with the eyes gilded, the underside realistically cast and inscribed with a four character signature for Ryubundo zo above the character gin (silver), 30.5cm.

Provenance: an English private collection, Somerset, purchased in Japan.

See L Bordignon, The Golden Age of Japanese Okimono, pp.243-4 for another example of a silver minogame signed Ryuki.