Hoin Masataka - Lacquer and ivory okimono
A lacquer and ivory okimono depicting an elephant draped in a richly decorated hanging cloth worked in gold hiramakie with peacocks, the tail feather in aogai, and with an ornate harness, supporting a howdah containing two karako, one blowing a trumpet, the other with a lacquer mask, ringing bells, a third holding a flag and walking alongside, each wearing finely patterned coats and trousers, all on a red lacquer stand.
Signed beneath the howdah Hoin Masataka with kakihan
Height 33.8cm
Meiji period, circa 1880
With fitted wood tomobako (storage box) inscribed “lacquer and ivory okimono of karako on an elephant, respectfully made by lacquerer
Hoin Masataka
£SOLD