By Kimura Yonekichi, signed Shinmei (Masaaki) to Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)
The beautiful lady (bijin) standing on the flat oval base holding a young boy in her arms with a young girl standing beside her, their robes neatly incised with various foliate, floral, and geometric designs, the boy holding a stick with a string connected to a toy butterfly held in his sister’s hand, a drum-shaped basket to their feet and a hat lying on the ground behind them.
Kimura Yonekichi (artist name Shinmei/Masaaki) was a member of the ivory group of the Tokyo Chokokai (Tokyo Carvers’ Association) between Meiji 39 and 43 (1906-1910). He is listed in the book History of Japanese Ivory carving, The Shoto Museum, 1996.
HEIGHT 26.3 cm
Condition: Good condition with some minor natural age cracks, repairs to two butterfly wings and the boy’s stick, a chip to the bijin’s hairband. Provenance: British collection.