132 - Ɏ A MASTERFUL AND LARGE SECTIONAL IVORY OKIMONO OF A COCKATOO

Ɏ A MASTERFUL AND LARGE SECTIONAL IVORY OKIMONO OF A COCKATOO Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912) Exquisitely carved in remarkable naturalistic detail, the majestic cockatoo perched upon a tall burlwood stand, its powerful talons firmly gripping the branch. The bird is depicted with its head inclined slightly downward, its expressive eyes lacquered in deep black and finely accented with silver inlay. The luxuriant plumage is rendered with exceptional precision, each feather individually modeled and meticulously incised to capture the delicate overlapping layers and textures. Particularly striking are the long, gracefully extending tail feathers and the prominent crest sweeping back from the head, their deeply carved and subtly undulating forms lending the sculpture an extraordinary sense of depth and movement. The ambitious sectional construction and masterful attention to anatomical detail exemplify the technical virtuosity of Meiji-period ivory carving. HEIGHT 29 cm (excl. stand), 62 cm (incl. stand) Provenance: British collection. Zacke, Asian Art Discoveries Day 1 - Japanese & Korean Art, 27 February 2020, Vienna, lot 93 (sold for EUR 22,752). A noted private collection, acquired from the above. Condition: Very good, complete and original condition with minor wear and natural age cracks. Very minor losses and chipping to the edges of some feathers. The cockatoo, an exotic bird not native to Japan, became a captivating subject for Meiji-period artists, who delighted in its expressive features and elaborate plumage. The exceptional scale and technical sophistication of the present sculpture recall the ambitious ivory carvings created for international exhibitions during the Meiji period. Notably, Sakabe Mitsunobu, the celebrated ivory sculptor to whom a closely related cockatoo is attributed, exhibited ivory carvings of parrots and pigeons at the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1900. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related ivory model of a cockatoo, attributed to Sakabe Mitsunobu, dated to the Meiji period, 29.2 cm high (the bird), at Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, 10 November 2016, London, lot 438 (sold for GBP 23,750 or approx. EUR 39,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). Compare a closely related ivory okimono of a parrot perched on a wooden stand, dated to the Meiji period, 87 cm high (incl. stand), at Bonhams, Asian Art, 10 July 2013, Edinburgh, lot 21 (sold for GBP 37,250 or approx. EUR 64,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number AT 25-B-1039). This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.