C1880 JAPANESE IVORY OKIMONO 'THE FIREFIGHTERS' SIGNED

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Offered for your consideration is a c1880 Japanese carved ivory okimono of what appears to be a pair of fireman complete with dog, water barrels and ladder. This wonderful okimono was produced in Japan during the Meiji period around c1880. This is a large and hefty carving produced from one solid piece of walrus ivory and signed by the artist on a red lacquer placque to the underneath. This is actually a very large carving considering that it had to be a substaintial walrus tusk which are not very common. The carving depicts two male figures charging to extinguish a fire showing a firefighter dog, ladder and a horse pulling a wagon loaded with 7 barrels of water all siting atop the bottom carved to resemble a road. The workmanship is very good having great detail to the dog and the horses face along with ropes, finely detailed barrels and wood graining incised and lac filled applied to the wagon. The color and patina are just superb. Condition is very good except for a repair made in the front, looking closely one will see a little glue to the ladder rails in the area w the hands are in which the hands and feet have also been re-stuck. Lastly t is one of the wooden yokes missing from accross the figure holding on to the other, but one does not really notice these flaws unless looking closely. Length 11-1/4" x Width 1-3/4" x Height read more

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