Meiji period (1868-1912), pigments and gilt with inlay on carved wood, a very fine and rare almost lifesize sculpture of a lady dressed in Han dynasty style attire, holding a Chinese style fan, embellished with shibayama inlay and intricate carved patterns to her robe, her hands, face and neck are painted white, red lips, glass eyes, her traditional chignon is accentuated with unusual carved flower blossom knobs to the left and right side and another conical knob to the center top of her head.

50 in.

From the Estate of the late Mr. & Mrs. Charles and Cynthia Salzhauer, Oxford, North Carolina

This sculpture shows great skill and the finery of shibayama decoration to wood seen most often on ceremonial instruments of the time, see Meiji period koto that sold in these rooms in September 2022. This rare large female figure dressed in Han dynasty robes with floral blossoms to the sides of her head may represent Diao Chan, one of the "Four Beauties of China" featured in the classical Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. This novel gained popularity in Japan during the late Edo and Meiji periods and was depicted in paintings and woodblock prints of this time.

The sculpture was acquired by the consignor's parents and featured for many years on a pedestal in their formal dining room. The purchase receipt remains, dated May 24, 1972 from a interior design firm, Robert Caigan Associates, Inc. in New York, as "One Antique Japanese Figure...$1,920."

Repairs to one hand; repair to hair in back; some losses to paint on hair; repair at neck; some hairlines to paint on face, neck and hands; some restoration to paint on face; stress cracks to wood particularly down the backside; some losses to edges of robe; some losses to edges of flower buns on sides of head; general rubbing and wear.

$2,000 - 4,000