Until 2nd May, 2025
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ITSUZAN: A WOOD NETSUKE OF A STATION BELL (EKIREI)
LOT 383 - AK0124
By Itsuzan, signed Itsuzan
Japan, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
The wood netsuke modelled as a looped bell with a loose ball within making a rattling sound, the sides carved with two shaped reverses, each enclosing the characters ekirei (post-station bell) carved in relief, the base incised with the signature ITSUZAN.
HEIGHT 5.1 cm
Condition: Very condition with minor wear.
Under the Japanese ritsuryo system, station bells or post bells (ekirei) were bells of red copper issued by the central government or by local provincial government offices to travelling officials or messengers known as ekishi. Functioning as a proof of identity, they allowed them to procure horses and labor at post stations. Depending on the rank of the emissary, the bells were marked with a number of notches regulating the number of horses that could be requested. A prince of royal blood of first rank, for example, would receive ten horses. On urgent dispatches the ekishi would ride with the bells ringing in order to be able to change horses at any time of day or night without delay. These bells were also known as post road bells (ekiru no suzu) or stable bells (umaya no suzu). The system was established in the Taiho Code from 701 and was in use until the end of the 12th century or the end of the Heian period when it fell in disuse together with the demise of the centralized state.
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