1st Dec, 2023 13:00

Fine Japanese Art

 
  Lot 92
 

92

A VERY RARE KAKURE KIRISHITAN (HIDDEN CHRISTIANITY) SILVER KOZUKA DEPICTING DARUMA

Sold for €1,950

including Buyer's Premium


Lot details

With inscription Hinputei ka Hokko Hitsu
Japan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

Engraved in kebori with the Zen-patriarch Daruma seated in meditation, looking up at the inscription inlaid in gold above a hazy ground. The reverse with a hossu (ceremonial Buddhist whisk) decorated with hirazogan in suaka (copper) and gold beneath a diagonal straited katakiribori ground hiding a gold inlaid cross. Inscribed on the obverse in gold hirazogan with a circle seal, Hinputei ka Hokko hitsu 貧富亭下、北公筆.

HEIGHT 9.8 cm
WEIGHT 32.3 g

Condition: Excellent condition, minor wear.

This is the only appearance of this artist’s name. The etymology of his name, literally translating ‘Pavilion for the rich and poor,’ creates a further mystery in light of the Zen, Buddhist, and Christian emblems which decorate this kozuka. Given the restricted approach to religious freedom within feudalism of the Edo period, the combination of motifs and the unusual etymology behind the artist’s name is extremely rare. The maker and owner of this kozuka likely belonged to a small community of Kakure Kirishitan.

Kakure Kirishitan (‘Hidden Christians‘) are descendants of the first Japanese converts to Christianity who were driven underground in mid-17th century. During a time when Catholicism was illegal to practice, small communities met in secret, creating unrecognizable Christian icons by concealing them as Buddhist figures; icons, like the Virgin Mary, were molded to look like Kannon or Guanyin. This depiction of Daruma, with his monk robes, possibly represents a Kakure Kirishitan icon of Jesus or possibly John the Baptist, given the shared ascetic lifestyles shared between Daruma and the prophet.

 

With inscription Hinputei ka Hokko Hitsu
Japan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

Engraved in kebori with the Zen-patriarch Daruma seated in meditation, looking up at the inscription inlaid in gold above a hazy ground. The reverse with a hossu (ceremonial Buddhist whisk) decorated with hirazogan in suaka (copper) and gold beneath a diagonal straited katakiribori ground hiding a gold inlaid cross. Inscribed on the obverse in gold hirazogan with a circle seal, Hinputei ka Hokko hitsu 貧富亭下、北公筆.

HEIGHT 9.8 cm
WEIGHT 32.3 g

Condition: Excellent condition, minor wear.

This is the only appearance of this artist’s name. The etymology of his name, literally translating ‘Pavilion for the rich and poor,’ creates a further mystery in light of the Zen, Buddhist, and Christian emblems which decorate this kozuka. Given the restricted approach to religious freedom within feudalism of the Edo period, the combination of motifs and the unusual etymology behind the artist’s name is extremely rare. The maker and owner of this kozuka likely belonged to a small community of Kakure Kirishitan.

Kakure Kirishitan (‘Hidden Christians‘) are descendants of the first Japanese converts to Christianity who were driven underground in mid-17th century. During a time when Catholicism was illegal to practice, small communities met in secret, creating unrecognizable Christian icons by concealing them as Buddhist figures; icons, like the Virgin Mary, were molded to look like Kannon or Guanyin. This depiction of Daruma, with his monk robes, possibly represents a Kakure Kirishitan icon of Jesus or possibly John the Baptist, given the shared ascetic lifestyles shared between Daruma and the prophet.

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