Japanese Okimono Carving of The Seven Deities of Good Fortune Dancing around a Shrine
MakerMade by
Jugyoku
DateMeiji Period, 1868 - 1912
Object NameOkimono Carving
Mediumivory and mother of pearl
ClassificationsApplied Art
DimensionsOverall (Height x Width x Depth): 70 × 65 × 50mm
AcquisitionBequeathed in 1938 by Dr James Taylor Grant.
CopyrightOut of copyright - CC0
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDMS011227
About MeCarved ivory okimono with inlaid mother of pearl, in the form of the Seven Deities of Good Fortune dancing around a shrine. This particular piece was made by Jugyoku a well known netsuke artist working during the second half of the 19th century.
Okimono are small sculptures as equally charming as netsuke, albeit they are slightly larger and are purely decorative (netsuke function as a kind of toggle and are worn with traditional Japanese clothing). They were also very much sought after and usually made by the same makers and artists who produced netsuke. As netsuke became obsolete during the late nineteenth century when many Japanese adopted Western dress, these artists concentrated their skills on creating okimono, making the Meiji period (1868 - 1912) the most prolific in okimono production.
Known as the Shichifukujin, the seven deities of good fortune included Ebisu, god of fishermen and good fortune; Daikokuten, god of earth and prosperity, depicted with a magic mallet; Benzaiten, goddess of music and the arts, depicted with a mandolin; Hotei, god of happiness, depicted with a large belly, a bag of food and treasure, and small children at his feet; Fukurokuju, god of wisdom, depicted with a white beard, cane and scroll said to contain all the wisdom of the world; Jurojin, god of longevity, depicted also with a scroll said to hold the secret to longevity and Bishamonten, god of treasure and war, depicted wearing armour.
More About Me
Cavorting in a merry dance, the seven deities of good fortune prance; in ivory and mother of pearl, round and round the shrine they whirl!
Edo Period, possibly late 18th century
Edo Period, possibly late 18th century
Qing Dynasty, possibly 19th century
Meiji Period, 1868 - 1912
James Cromar Watt
Qing Dynasty, Jiaqing Period, 1796-1820
James Cromar Watt
Ming Dynasty, Yongle Period, 1402 - 1424
James Cromar Watt
Ming Dynasty, 15th - 16th century
Meiji Period, 1868 - 1912
James Cromar Watt
Edo Period, late 19th century
Possibly 19th century
James Cromar Watt
Edo Period, possibly late 18th century
