AN EXCELLENT IVORY OKIMONO OF A DRUNKEN ONI WITH TANUKI
Ivory okimonoJapanlate 19th century to Meiji period (1868-1912)A drunken oni, depicted as a vendor, his face and horns very finely carved, in a joyous dance pose. The demon is holding a piece of an octopus tentacle up high in one hand and a sake bottle with a character meaning “more of that” (among other things) in the other. He is carrying an umbrella on his back. Beside the oni is a tanuki, a kind of demonic raccoon, which is sometimes also depicted selling sake. The garment folds and other details are carved in a very lively manner, and a two-character inscription inlaid in red lacquer within a decorative reserve on the tanuki’s belly, presumably reading 蛮民 – loosely translating to ‘savage people’.HEIGHT 14.4 CMCondition: Good condition, one hand has been reattached - but barely visibleProvenance: Austrian private collection