Superb 19th C. Japanese Bronze Jizai Okimono Crab

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Fine Antiquities, Asian, Ethno, Fine Art

By Artemis Fine Arts

May 1, 2025

Set Reminder 2025-05-01 10:00:00 2025-05-01 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities, Asian, Ethno, Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-asian-ethno-fine-art-19334
Showcasing an extraordinary array of artifacts and art, including Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Near Eastern, Asian, Pre-Columbian, Native American, Tribal, Oceanic, Spanish Colonial treasures, fossils, fine and visual arts, and more! All ancient items are ethically sourced and legally available for sale. Enjoy the ease of in-house shipping for a seamless experience! Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  East Asia, Japan, Edo to Meiji period, ca. 19th to early 20th century CE. A remarkable bronze articulated model of a crab, poised atop a polished wooden display slab. Expertly crafted from numerous individually formed pieces, each segment is ingeniously jointed within the body to create a lifelike, movable form - the limbs, eyes, and even the claws are fully articulated. The surface is richly textured and finely incised to capture the anatomical details of the carapace, all finished in a lustrous reddish-coppery patina. This piece is an exceptional example of jizai okimono, or lifelike articulated animal sculpture. Such works emerged during the peaceful Edo period, when skilled metalsmiths - many of whom previously made samurai armor - shifted their focus to creating intricate, movable sculptures. Size of wooden base: 9.5" L x 5.25" W x 1" H (24.1 cm x 13.3 cm x 2.5 cm) Size: 6" L x 3.5" W x 2" H (15.2 cm x 8.9 cm x 5.1 cm)
  
  Provenance: private Los Angeles, California, USA collection, acquired in the 1980s
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
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  #192243

  Condition

  Intact and excellent. Lovely patina. All limbs articulate. Comes with a custom wood slab as the display base. The wood is not original to the crab but has a lovely patina and matches nicely.
• Shipping Info

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