A RARE AND IMPRESSIVE PAIR OF JAPANESE WOOD OKIMONO OF NIŌ BY ROKKO

A RARE AND IMPRESSIVE PAIR OF JAPANESE WOOD OKIMONO OF NIŌ BY ROKKO
MEIJI ERA, 19TH CENTURY

The two wrathful and muscular guardians of the Buddha depicted standing in dramatic poses, wearing loose skirts and with long ribbons flowing around them; Ungyō typically carved with his mouth closed and holding a short spear, Agyō with his mouth open and holding a staff; the eyes inlaid with small black beads; both signed Rokko, 17.6cm and 18.2 cm respectively. (2)

Rokko is mentioned in G Lazarnick, Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to read their signatures, vol.II, p.880 and F Meinertzhagen, The Meinertzhagen Card Index on Netsuke in the Archives of the British Museum, Part B, p.652. Lazarnick lists two pieces by the artist, one of a bather and another of Hotei. The Hotei okimono is described by Meinertzhagen as an 'extraordinarily clever carving expressing Hotei's mirthful spirit to a degree never exceeded in any other figure I have ever seen. [...] The whole effect much enhanced by the beautiful color, grain and polish of the wood'.

These dramatic representations of the Benevolent Kings are usually found at the entrances of Buddhist temples. The open mouth represents the first sound of birth ("a"), while the closed mouth symbolizes the last sound of death ("un"), together embodying the cycle of all creation. Their muscular bodies convey the idea of strength and the ability to protect Buddhist teachings from evil.