121 - YOSHIKAWA YASUYOSHI: A MASSIVE (62.5 CM) PAIR OF BRONZE KOMAINU (GUARDIAN DOGS)

YOSHIKAWA YASUYOSHI: A MASSIVE (62.5 CM) PAIR OF BRONZE KOMAINU (GUARDIAN DOGS) By Yoshikawa Yasuyoshi, with seal Yoshikawa Yasuyoshi Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912) Superbly cast as a pair of komainu seated upright on their haunches, one horned with its mouth closed and the other hornless with its mouth open, each powerfully modeled with muscular limbs, bulging eyes, a broad nose, sharp fangs, and large clawed paws. The voluminous manes are formed of tightly curled and finely striated locks, echoed by the magnificent openwork tails rising beside the bodies in flame-like tufts and swirling cloud forms. The bronze with a rich, lustrous dark brown patina. Inscriptions: Each sealed to the underside 吉川安芳 Yoshikawa Yasuyoshi. HEIGHT 62.5 and 55 cm WEIGHT 26.2 kg and 25.9 kg Provenance: The private collection of Lawrence E. Gichner, Washington, D.C., USA. Ex-collection John (Jack) and Helen Mang, Alexandria, Virginia, USA, acquired from the above in 1968 (recorded under inventory number O150, “Temple Lions (pair) Large.”). The collection of J.M. Beer, Bethesda, Maryland, USA, acquired from the above. A copy of the corresponding page of the Helen R. Mang General Oriental Collection estate inventory, confirming the provenance above, accompanies this lot. Lawrence E. Gichner (1907-1992) was a prominent collector, dealer, and appraiser specializing in Asian and American art. Based in Washington, D.C., he worked with private collectors and major institutions, including the Smithsonian, and was particularly knowledgeable about Asian sculpture and decorative arts. John A. “Jack” Mang (1912-2003) and his wife Helen Randall Mang (1913-2012) were distinguished collectors of Japanese art, best known for assembling one of the largest private collections of netsuke in the United States, comprising more than 1,100 pieces. Their acquisition of the present pair of monumental bronze komainu reflects their broader appreciation of Japanese craftsmanship and sculptural artistry. Condition: Excellent condition with minor expected wear. Yoshikawa Yasuyoshi was a bronze artist associated with Takaoka, in present-day Toyama Prefecture, one of Japan’s foremost centers of artistic metal casting. Established under the patronage of the Maeda clan during the early Edo period, Takaoka developed a distinguished tradition of bronze production, combining sophisticated casting techniques with meticulous hand-finishing and refined patination. During the Meiji period, its workshops achieved international recognition for the exceptional quality and artistic ambition of their metalwork. Komainu, literally “Korean dogs,” are lion-like guardians traditionally placed in pairs at Japanese shrine and temple entrances to ward off evil. Derived from Chinese and Korean sculptural traditions, the pair traditionally comprises a horned komainu with its mouth closed (ungyo) and a hornless shishi with its mouth open (agyo), together representing the sacred syllables a-un, symbolizing beginning and end. Over time, both figures came to be known collectively as komainu. Auction comparison: Compare a related pair of similarly cast bronze karashishi, dated to the Meiji-Taisho period, 104.1 cm high, at Bonhams, Fine Works of Asian Art, 18 June 2007, San Francisco, lot 6008 (sold for USD 33,000 or approx. EUR 47,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).