Attributed to Kaihō Yushō 海北友松 (1533-1615) Taikōbō
Momoyama period (1573-1615), late 16th/early 17th centuryKakejiku (hanging scroll), ink on paper in silk mounts, depicting Taikōbō fishing by the bank of a river; ivory jiku (roller ends)Two seals at lower right: Kaihō 海北, Yūshō 友松Wood tomobako storage box inscribed outside Kaihō Yushō hitsu Taikōbō zu 海北友松筆太公望圖 (Picture of Kaihō Yūshō, brushed by Kaihō Yushō) Overall: 177.5cm x 51.5cm (69 7/8in x 20?in); Image: 83.2cm x 33cm (32?in x 13in) (2).
注脚
Figure paintings in this style by Kaihō Yūshō are termed fukuro-e (bag pictures) in reference to the sack-like shape of the garments. Taikōbō or Roshō (in Chinese, Tai Gong Wang) is a legendary Chinese figure, reputed to have lived at the end of the second millennium B.C. In old age he adopted a reclusive lifestyle and spent his time fishing in the Wei River, but one day Wen Wang, founder of the Zhou Dynasty, passed by while on a hunt and, seeing Tai Gong Wang, realised that a prophecy made by his magician had come true: the magician had foretold that the day's trophy would be not an a animal but a man fitted to become an emperor's trusted advisor.Please note that the jiku (roller ends) are made of ivory, the import of which is banned in the USA and China; additionally, from 1 January 2021 this lot will require a CITES permit for export to all other destinations outside of the UK. Should you wish, the Japanese Department can arrange for the jiku to be professionally removed at an additional cost.