A JAPANESE KAGA STYLE BRONZE DISH MEIJI PERIOD

A JAPANESE KAGA STYLE BRONZE DISH

MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY

Decorated with a central medallion enclosing the figure of Eguchi no Kimoi as Fugen Bosatsu in shibuichi takazogan, the deity wearing long robes and her hair held up with kanzashi ornaments, holding a long handscroll and standing on an elephant, with twelve inlaid cranes flying amongst scrolling clouds to the cavetto in gold honzogan, 32.5cm.

See Bonhams New York, 19th September 2008, lot 5183 for another Kaga style bronze dish.

Kimi was a famous prostitute from the village of Eguchi who after assiduously studying Buddhist scriptures became an incarnation of Fugen Bosatsu, the bodhisattva of Universal Goodness, Virtue and Worthiness. See lot 385 for another depiction of this myth.