126 - † A MASTERFUL WOOD OKIMONO OF THREE MONKEYS STRUGGLING WITH A GIANT SNAKE

† A MASTERFUL WOOD OKIMONO OF THREE MONKEYS STRUGGLING WITH A GIANT SNAKE Japan, c. 1880, Meiji period (1868-1912) Masterfully carved in the round as a remarkably dynamic and intricately intertwined group of three monkeys struggling with an enormous snake. The largest monkey stands upright at the center, its head raised defiantly, while a smaller monkey clambers up its body, stretching both arms upward in an effort to grasp its companion. Beneath them, a third monkey twists dramatically, its face pressed beneath the foot of the monkey above, the head turned sharply sideways in an extraordinarily lifelike expression of distress. The wonderfully animated arrangement of grasping hands, outstretched limbs, and contorted bodies conveys a striking sense of movement, heightened by the monkeys' individually expressive faces. Their muscular forms are meticulously covered in finely incised fur, the delicate strands flowing naturally along the contours of their limbs and torsos. The powerful serpent winds sinuously around and between the struggling animals, its muscular coils tightly encircling their bodies, the head raised with an alert gaze. Its entire surface is intricately carved with individually delineated, overlapping scales, each finely stippled and outlined with darkened incisions, creating a remarkable textural contrast with the monkeys' flowing fur. HEIGHT 22 cm Condition: Good condition with minor wear, small age cracks to the snake's body, and a repaired crack to one monkey's leg. Restorations to the tip of the snake's tail and several fingers. Presenting beautifully. The monkey (saru) and snake (hebi) are celebrated subjects in Japanese art and folklore, both belonging to the twelve animals of the East Asian zodiac. Monkeys, admired for their intelligence, mischievous nature, and remarkably human expressions, were particularly favored by Japanese carvers, who delighted in capturing their playful antics and complex interactions. The snake, meanwhile, is traditionally associated with wisdom, renewal, and good fortune. The present work transforms the confrontation between these creatures into a remarkably animated and almost theatrical struggle, combining dramatic tension with subtle humor. Particularly delightful is the unfortunate monkey at the base, its face unceremoniously stepped upon by its companion as it twists desperately within the serpent's coils. The ingenious arrangement of the three animals and the snake, together with the extraordinary naturalism of the carving, demonstrates the sculptor's exceptional powers of observation and technical virtuosity. Museum comparison: Compare a related wood okimono depicting a monkey wrestling a snake, dated circa 1890, in the Spurlock Museum of World Cultures, University of Illinois, collection no. 2020.06.0170, illustrated in Sculpted Stories: Selected Works from the Fred Freund Collection, University of Illinois, 2020. 13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium - only for buyers within the EU.