AN EXPRESSIVE POLYCHROME AND GILT MOKUGYOWood, polychrome pigments and gildingJapan, Edo period (1615-1868)The percussion instrument, also called a wooden fish, is covered in polychrome pigments in blue and green with some gilding. This mokugyo is modelled as a dragon fish with a bifurcated tail, ears and a long snout with fangs which hold a pearl. The scales are expressively carved, the eyes are wide open, and the fish holds another pearl in-between its tail, which serves as the handle for the instrument, which is well hollowed out and has a very good sound. The story of the mokugyo comes from a repentant fish, which committed a crime when he was a human. He helped a monk across the river and in return asked for a path to enlightenment. After seventeen years the monk had return and had forgotten the fish’s plea, who almost drowned the monk in the river in his rage. The monk was saved but his sutras were ruined. The monk then created a wooden effigy of the fish and beat it with a wooden hammer, and every time he hit the fish’s head, a character came out of its mouth – thus a few years later his sutras were replaced. Shape: Figural, shape of a mokugyoDimensions: Height 28 cm, Length 31 cm Condition: Good condition considering age and use. There is peeling to the paint, age cracks and minor chipping.Provenance: Viennese private collection