by SHOCHIKUSAI Yudo (1868–1936)
Late Meiji/Taisho period, circa 1912-26 Carved Cherry wood, sakura
60 x 24 x 2.5 cm Signed. Storage box
A beautifully organic, sculptural tray deeply carved from a single slab of cherry wood to depict five bats darting across a fluid sky of scudding clouds, made luminous through a subtle dusting of shimmering lacquer. The carving is crisp and sharp, each face with individual character, and with inlaid ebony eyes. The reverse is carved with an inset foot, within which is the signature Yuho (Shochikusai Yuho/Shudo – the art name of Ichikawa Manjiro), an artist of samurai descent from Himeji Prefecture.
While in the West the bat would be an unlikely subject – typically inspiring a fearsome reaction associated with 'the other' - in the East, by contrast, the bat, komori, represents the concept of 'good luck'. This particular design of five bats represents the Five Blessings: longevity, health, wealth, a love of virtue, and a natural death.