Carved Solid Silver Sculpture of a Goat by Unno Bisei

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Carved Solid Silver Sculpture of a Goat by Unno Bisei

About the Item

Okimono or sculpture in the form of a seated yagi or goat. Of cast and cold chiseled silver, the eyes inlaid in shakudö and gold. Signed on the reverse with a chiseled signature by the artist: Bisei, and with a kakihan (Unno Bisei, the go or art name of Unno Yoshimori II, 1864 – 1919). With the tomobako or original box, inscribed on the reverse of the lid: Jun Gin Sei, Yagi Okimono or Made of Pure Silver, Goat Sculpture….Unno Yoshimori Saku or Made by Unno Yoshimori. Unno Bisei was the son of Unno Moritoshi of Mito, who was the younger brother of Unno Yoshimori I. Bisei moved to Tokyo in 1889. He studied under Unno Shomin, and like his teacher taught at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts. For other examples of Bisei’s work, c.f. The Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Japanese Art: Meiji No Takara: Treasures of Imperial Japan, Metalwork Part I, number 41; see also Rokushö, Volume 32, page 49. Bisei first cast this masterpiece of solid silver before entirely chiseling and carving the surface to amazing effect. The goat’s beard falls in strong lines, echoed by the mane cascading over his neck; his hair curls and runs over his muscles with the grace of Art Nouveau aesthetics. Dignity and strength stare at us with formal command, an effect Bisei reinforces in the subtle way he inlays the eyes, framing the oval shakud0 pupil with crescents of gold beneath heavy brows. After carving the deeper features, the artist’s chisels danced over the surface, finely detailing the horns, the flowing hairs, and curves of each limb and feature. At the hooves, Bisei turned his tools to the side for horizontal emphasis and a contrasting impression of hardness. This is workmanship serving an image in the artist’s eye, great skill disposed with an effortless effect. 5 ½” high x 7 ¼” long x 4 ¼” deep.

Creator:
Unno Bisei (Artist)
Dimensions:
Height: 5.5 in (13.97 cm)Width: 7.25 in (18.42 cm)Depth: 4.25 in (10.8 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Shakudo
Place of Origin:
Japan
Period:
Early 20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
Circa 1910
Condition:
Seller Location:
Orcas, WA
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU95891103708