A PAIR OF JAPANESE EARLY EDO-PERIOD KAKEJIKU DEPICTING NIÔ GUARDIANS, CIRCA 1700 (EARLY EDO PERIOD) A PAIR OF JAPANESE EARLY EDO-PERIOD KAKEJIKU DEPICTING NIÔ GUARDIANS, CIRCA 1700 (EARLY EDO PERIOD) A PAIR OF JAPANESE EARLY EDO-PERIOD KAKEJIKU DEPICTING NIÔ GUARDIANS, CIRCA 1700 (EARLY EDO PERIOD) A PAIR OF JAPANESE EARLY EDO-PERIOD KAKEJIKU DEPICTING NIÔ GUARDIANS, CIRCA 1700 (EARLY EDO PERIOD) A PAIR OF JAPANESE EARLY EDO-PERIOD KAKEJIKU DEPICTING NIÔ GUARDIANS, CIRCA 1700 (EARLY EDO PERIOD)

A PAIR OF JAPANESE EARLY EDO-PERIOD KAKEJIKU DEPICTING NIÔ GUARDIANS, CIRCA 1700 (EARLY EDO PERIOD)

Reference: ART2001676

Pair of impressive, antique kakejiku 掛け軸 (hanging scroll) showcasing the awe-inspiring Niô guardians 仁王, also referred to as heavenly kings.

Each painting captures one of the two guardians: Agyô 阿形 with an open mouth and Ungyô 吽形 with a closed mouth. The intricate details of their muscular bodies, flowing robes, and dynamic garlands are skilfully depicted. Adorned with necklaces, bracelets, and armlets, they exude a powerful presence. One of the guardians holds a Buddhist tuning fork, while the other wields a thunderbolt sceptre. Their fierce and almost grotesque expressions are characterized by large bulging eyes and furrowed brows, adding to their formidable aura. These expressive and polychrome paintings are finely rendered on silk using ink and watercolours. They are presented as hanging scrolls with silk brocade frames. The jikusaki 軸先 (rod ends) are made of red lacquered wood with an engraved scrolling foliage design.
With an old black-lacquered wood tomobako 供箱 (storage box).

Each
Image: Height 127.5 cm, Width 75.6 cm.
Entire scroll:
Image: Height 192 cm, Width 91.5 cm.

Considering their age, they are in overall good condition, with some signs of wear, soiling, creasing, and a few minuscule losses.