By Koma Yasutomi, signed Koma Yasutomi 古満 安譡 saku 作
Japan, 19^th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

Published:
Sydney Moss Ltd (1998) Odd Men Out, pp. 142-143, no. 47.
Sydney Moss Ltd (2014) Lac Lacquer Lacquest, pp. 176-177, no. 58.

Of upright slender rectangular form, delicately decorated with polychrome takamaki-e and hiramaki-e on a sprinkled gold and red-brown e-nashiji ground. Kikujido, the chrysanthemum boy, is superbly portrayed, seated with long roiro hair in his fine court robes. He holds a spray of two bright red tsuishu-inlaid kiku flowers.

The outline of his robe, consisting of baggy pants and shoes, is cleverly outlined in iridescent aogai. Kikujido’s robe is finely decorated with an overall scrolling kiku design. Above his head are large chrysanthemum leaves highlighted with kirigane flakes, which are also depicted on the reverse. Signed to the underside KOMA YASUTOMI SAKU [made by Koma Yasatomi]. The interior of gold fundame.

LENGTH 6 cm, HEIGHT 9 cm

Condition: Excellent condition with only very minor wear.
Provenance: Christie's, London, 16 June 1992, lot 296.

Koma Yasutomi was an obscure member of the Koma family of lacquerworkers, active toward the end of the Tokugawa period, in the early to mid 19^th century. Often referred to by the alternative reading of his name, Koma Anto, he is not infrequently mentioned in inro literature, but only about ten works by him are known. He was a skilled lacquerer in maki techniques, in togidashi-e, and used inlaid material with some sensitivity.

Kikujido was of Chinese origin, a court attendant and favorite of Emperor Mu of Chou, who one day, while passing the monarch's couch, accidentally kicked a cushion with his foot. A rival won his exile to a distant valley for this deadly insult, but before he left, the Emperor taught him a magic formula. Alone for many years in his distant valley, Kikujido wrote his magic phrase repeatedly on the only materials available to him: chrysanthemum (kiku) leaves. According to one version, the dew that washed the ink from the leaves became the elixir of eternal youth. The Emperor finally reconciled and brought him back to court, where he discovered that after many years Kikujido had not aged at all.