Features
■ A Distinct Shōwa Avant-Garde Style
In the later Shōwa period Japanese art was strongly influenced by modern art and Surrealism, and many artists began to combine folk legend, tales of spirits and their own invention in their work.
This piece renders a yōkai in exaggerated, distorted form; rather than realism it uses a distinctive shape to convey the creature's character, fully expressing the free spirit of Shōwa avant-garde art.
■ A Rat-Spirit Yōkai Subject of Real Collecting Interest
The form is like a rat demon or spirit out of legend, combining:
Japanese yōkai culture
local legends of spirits and demons
elements of folk belief
fantastical artistic invention
The large ears and sharp teeth are strongly mysterious while keeping a degree of humour and playfulness, making for a distinctive and memorable effect.
■ Traces of Hand Modelling Fully Preserved
The surface clearly shows the texture and tool marks left by hand modelling.
These include:
the built-up texture of the body
the modelling of the ears
the marks of carving the features
the painted brushwork
all of which show a strong handmade quality and give every piece its own character and vitality.
■ A Subject Drawing Attention in the Grotesque Art Market
In recent years Japanese grotesque art and yōkai collecting have gradually gained attention in the international market.
Handmade works of the Shōwa period in particular, limited in number and unusual in subject, are much sought after by:
collectors of Japanese culture
enthusiasts of yōkai art
folk-craft collectors
operators of creative and cultural spaces
all of whom favour them.
All dimensions are measured by hand and may vary by ±1 cm.
Because of differences in computer displays, the item may differ somewhat from the photographs, for example in colour and tone. In addition, every item in our shop is an antique or vintage piece; being old, such pieces will inevitably carry traces of history or of use. To avoid unnecessary disputes, please buy only if you do not mind this. If you are a perfectionist, please do not place an order. (Auction notes) (Please also read the shopping notes in full.)