Anonymous

Meiji period, 19th century

1868-1912

Kogo

A finely carved ivory kogo box. Two circling tora (tigers) around a central head of a roaring tiger.

Tigers in Japanese art come mostly from China and Korea. Tigers have not been in Japan for thousands of years. Seen as supreme among the land animals often representing strength and courage the tiger was often used in the art for great families as home wall screens, panels and paintings.

Tigers in Japanese art often look odd to the eye either looking like dogs or domestic cats. In the case of this kogo the image is extremely lifelike, the artist had most likely seen a tiger in person at the zoological gardens of Tokyo in the Meiji period.

68mm x 40mm

unsigned