By Suzuki Tokoku (1846-1913), signed Bairyu 楳立and Tokoku 東谷
Japan, Tokyo, late 19^th to early 20^th century, Meiji period (1868-1912)

Of muso-zutsu form, masterfully inlaid in wood, bamboo, stained bone, tortoiseshell, lacquer simulating iron, and antler to depict Onna San no Miya dressed in a fine robe, her hair tied in an elaborate coiffure, looking back at a wood sculpture of a cat, with a chisel and hammer lying on the side. The himotoshi and mouth ringed in gold. The reverse inlaid with two plaques in metal and mother-of-pearl, and signed BAIRYU and TOKOKU.

The kiseru of bamboo with silver fittings impressed with a silver hallmark.

LENGTH 20 cm (the kiseruzutsu), 18.8 cm (the pipe)

Condition: Good condition with minor wear, few small losses to the inlaid horn seam, a few worm holes throughout.
Provenance: Herbert Hohenadl, Munich, 1985. Private collection of Heidi Haupt-Battaglia (1921-2019), Switzerland, acquired from the above.

The present kiseruzutsu depicts a scene from Chapter 34, Wakana no jo of Genji Monogatari (The Tales of Genji). The focal point of one of the tragic romances in the second half of The Tale of Genji is the childlike Third Princess (Onna San no Miya), whom Genji takes to wed in his middle years. While pursuing her runaway cat, the young girl emerges from her living quarters and is seen by Kashiwagi, son of Genji’s best friend, who falls in love with her. This results in a clandestine relationship, Kashiwagi’s guilt-inspired illness and death, and an infant passed off – with Genji’s unspoken knowledge of the truth – as Genji’s offspring. The representation here is unusual and imbued with Tokoku’s typical wit and humor – rather than an actual cat, the cat is represented as a sculpture, a hammer and chisel lying beside it.

Auction comparison:
Compare a closely related woven rattan kiseruzutsu with similar inlays by Suzuki Tokoku, also sealed Tokoku and Bairyu, at Bonhams, The Edward Wrangham Collection of Japanese Art part II, 10 May 2011, London, lot 149 (sold for GBP 15,600).