285 - CLIVE HALLAM: CHIPMUNK OJIME

CLIVE HALLAM: CHIPMUNK OJIME By Clive Hallam (born 1965), signed CH United Kingdom, Autumn of 1993 Naturalistically carved as a young chipmunk perched upon a textured piece of bark, its compact body covered in finely incised fur and its long, luxuriant tail sweeping around the composition. The animal raises one forepaw defensively before its chest, while its alert ears, delicate whiskers, and lively eyes lend the diminutive creature an endearingly vulnerable expression. The irregular surface and deeply worked texture of the bark provide an effective contrast to the softly modeled animal and enhance the three-dimensional quality of the carving. Signed with the artist’s initials CH. HEIGHT 2.9 cm Condition: Excellent condition. Clive Hallam, born in 1965, has been a professional netsuke artist and restorer for over three decades. His creative journey began in the veld of Southern Africa, where, as a boy, he crafted toys for himself and his friends from discarded cola cans and scraps of old wire. Today, his intricately carved pieces are held in esteemed collections such as the Toledo Museum of Art and have been featured in publications like the International Netsuke Society Journal (INSJ), recently on the front page of INSJ, Vol. 42, No. 1. See below Clive Hallam’s comments on the present work: “Chipmunk sitting on a piece of bark. Visited London Zoo to see chipmunks. They loved eating peanuts I threw to them. One, however, wasn't getting any - very young and obviously scared. When I tried to get nearer to it, it brought its paw up and looked just like a boxer ready to fight. Wonderful. So was the expression on its face. I'm sure it meant to look fierce but really looked rather vulnerable. It was a very touching moment and a good idea for an ojime. I designed it to be a three-dimensional carving as well as a functional ojime.”