Japanese Works of Art - 13th November 2025
Lot 854
AN UNUSUAL SILVER AND SHAKUDO BOX WITH JAPANESE YŌKAI (MONSTER)
Estimate £1,000 - £1,500 | Hammer £1397
Inc. Buyers Premium
Description
AN UNUSUAL SILVER AND SHAKUDO BOX WITH JAPANESE YŌKAI (MONSTER)
MEIJI ERA, 19TH CENTURY
THE SILVER BOX DATED 1895
The top inset with a plaque depicting a kamaitachi ('sickle weasel'), the fury beast with sharp silver claws emerging from scrolling clouds in shakudo, its eyes and fangs picked out in gilt; mounted in a silver box of the same shape with English hallmarks for George Heath, London 1895; 8.8cm.
In Japanese lore, a kamaitachi or 'sickle weasel', scratches or tears people’s skin without reason, and is often held responsible for one's small cuts of unknown origins.