| Fine
Antique Japanese Okimono
Rat
Catcher
Monk Chasing Rat
Signature: unsigned, Meiji, 19th Century
h. 5.5 in.(14cm), w. 3 in.(7.5cm),
d. 2 in.(5cm)
Condition: minor loss,
o.a. very good! |  |
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Private Collection This
superb okimono is exquisitely realized not only in its depiction but in the many
fine details which are masterfully and delicately accomplished, such as the thin
bending leaves of the lotus plant, which the monk flails as he attempts to dislodge
a rat that is climbing there. It can be seen that the monk was peacefully meditating,
using his mokugyo, a kind of drum, when the presence of a rat interrupted his
practice. He tries to shake the rat off the lotus leaves, but the rat holds fast,
its tail curled forward on the stem. The whisk (signifying the vow to do no harm)
is of no use, and in the general mayhem the cat has become alerted to the situation.
The monk has forgotten himself and is climbing for leverage on his mokugyo with
its unstable support of pillows; his body language suggests he may fail in his
vow as the rat clings to its hold, and the whisk is about to be used as a club.
How impetuously vows are transgressed!
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The
masterful artistry of this work brings the entire scene to life. The monk’s face
is a study in realism, with subtle rendering of the scowling _expression and fine
engraving for the smallest details such as the monk’s eyebrows as well as the
fur of the cat and the rat. The monk’s hands and feet are carved with strength
and vigor, the whisk is a sinuous fall of twisting curves, the robe with its supple
folds and its edges falling like true silk, fragile and translucent, bespeak superior
artistry, creating a controlled rhythm that unifies every aspect of the work into
an instant of focused presence. Beyond artistic excellence itself is the incredibly
pictorial natural grain on the back, where unusual markings on the pale golden
ivory seem to echo the action and forms of this brilliant work. |
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