A FINE GOLD-INLAID RYUSA WALRUS TUSK MANJU NETSUKE REFERENCING THE TEN OX HERDING PICTURES

A FINE GOLD-INLAID RYUSA WALRUS TUSK MANJU NETSUKE REFERENCING THE TEN OX HERDING PICTURES
Unsigned
Japan, Tokyo, Asakusa district, second half of the 19
th
century
Finely carved in openwork with a central gold-inlaid ox seated in a meadow next to a scythe and farmers basket beneath a pine tree. The pine is intricately detailed with needles and gnarled branches, while the back is detailed with swirling clouds. The walrus tusk has a lustrous finish and typical cloudy inclusions.
DIAMETER 4 cm
Condition: Very good condition with only very minor wear.
Provenance:
Ex-collection June Schuerch (1930-2009).
The auspicious scene depicted here relates to the Ten Ox Herding Pictures and the Zen Buddhist parable of enlightenment regarding the ox and ox herder. This parable is most famously portrayed in the series of paintings (originally only eight) accompanied by a series of short poems by Kakuan Shien. In the story, the oxherd is separated from his ox. In his search for the ox, the herdsman reconciles his fundamental identity with the ultimate reality which transcends all distinctions. The oxherd symbolizes the self, who initially identifies with the individuated ego, separate from the ox, but who is progressively enlightened during his search. The ox symbolizes the ultimate, undivided reality, the Buddha-nature, which is the ground of all existence.
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.