λ A good Japanese Tokyo School ivory okimono Meiji 1868-1912

λ A good Japanese Tokyo School ivory okimono Meiji 1868-1912, carved as four men working on a roof tile shaped as a massive shachihoko, its eyes inlaid with mother of pearl, the details finely carved and some stained, signed Toshiaki/Shunmei to the base, 15.5cm.

Cf. F Meinertzhagen, The Meinertzhagen Card Index on Netsuke in the Archives of the British Museum, Part B, p.928, where another okimono by Toshiaki is mentioned.

Shimamura Toshiaki/Shunmei (1855-1896) is considered as one of the most accomplished okimono artists of the Tokyo School. He specialised in sculpting wood and ivory, and his carvings were exhibited and won prizes at the Chicago World Fair of 1893.