41 - MUNEYOSHI: A SUPERB INLAID SHAKUDO ARTICULATED ‘JIZAI’ OKIMONO OF A SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY

MUNEYOSHI: A SUPERB INLAID SHAKUDO ARTICULATED ‘JIZAI’ OKIMONO OF A SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY By Tomiki Muneyoshi (1899-1990), signed Muneyoshi (宗好) Japan, 20 th century, Taisho (1912-1926) to Showa era (1926-1989) Superbly and naturalistically modeled as a swallowtail butterfly, meticulously constructed from individually worked and articulated components, the delicately scalloped wings finely incised with radiating veins and decorated with subtle suaka (refined copper) inlays against the lustrous, darkly patinated shakudo ground. The decoration includes a prominent eye-like marking and a series of crescent-shaped spots, faithfully reproducing the distinctive patterns of the insect's wings. The slender body is finely detailed with a realistically modeled thorax, segmented abdomen, delicately fashioned legs, and long, curved antennae. The wings, head, legs, and abdomen are ingeniously assembled with movable joints, allowing the butterfly to assume a variety of lifelike positions. Signed MUNEYOSHI (宗好) beneath one wing. LENGTH (including antennae) 5.5 cm, LENGTH (wingspan) 12.8 cm WEIGHT 21.1 g Condition: Excellent condition with minor expected wear. Tomiki Muneyoshi (1899-1990), also known as Tomiki Suketsugu, was a highly accomplished Japanese metal artist and a member of the celebrated Tomiki family of Kyoto metalworkers. Following the early death of his father, he was raised in the household of Takase Kozan (1869-1934), whose workshop became renowned for the production of exceptionally lifelike articulated metal sculptures. From an early age, Muneyoshi acquired the demanding skills of metalworking through practical training in the workshop, eventually becoming an accomplished maker of jizai okimono. His finely articulated studies of insects and other creatures demonstrate a remarkable combination of technical ingenuity, anatomical precision, and sensitivity to the varied colors and textures of Japanese metal alloys. The art of jizai okimono developed from the exceptional craftsmanship of Japanese armorers, particularly those of the Myochin lineage, whose mastery of individually forged and articulated metal components provided the technical foundation for these remarkable sculptures. During the Meiji period, the tradition flourished as artists adapted these techniques to create astonishingly naturalistic models of animals, insects, and mythical creatures, often incorporating intricate movable joints that allowed the figures to be posed in lifelike positions. The present butterfly is a particularly refined example of this tradition, combining the mechanical ingenuity of articulated construction with the subtle decorative possibilities of shakudo and copper inlay. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related articulated jizai okimono of a butterfly by the same artist, Tomiki Muneyoshi, likewise signed Muneyoshi (宗好) beneath the left smaller wing, dated to the Taisho to early Showa period, 11.5 cm wingspan, at Christie's, Art of Japan, 8 December 2016, London, lot 28 (sold for GBP 6,000 or approx. EUR 10,200 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).