Lot 106 LOBSTER BY MYÔCHIN MUNEYUKI

An intricate copper jizai okimono 自在置物 (lit. “free decorative object”) by Myôchin Muneyuki 明珍宗之 (active Shôwa period), shaped as a lobster 海老 (ebi), with many delicate moving parts.

Signed at the bottom: ‘Made by Myôchin Muneyuki’ 明珍宗之作.

Myôchin Muneyuki 明珍宗之 was the 51st head of the Myôchin family, a lineage of renowned Japanese armor makers dating back to the 12th century. During the Shôwa era, the family faced a crisis due to the wartime Metal Recovery Order 金属回収令, which made it nearly impossible to obtain iron, even leading to the confiscation of blacksmithing tools. To preserve the Myôchin craftsmanship, Muneyuki made the difficult decision to sell the family’s ancestral home and land, ensuring the survival of their centuries-old traditions.

Approx. dimensions: Height 9.5 cm, Length 21 cm, Width 9 cm. Weight: 143 grams.

Period: Japan – Mid-/Late-Shôwa period (Mid-/Late-20th century).

Complete with its original signed and sealed tomobako 供箱 (storage box) and a Japanese leaflet about the artist.

In very good original condition. Please refer to the photos for a clear condition reference.

Jizai Okimono (meaning ‘freely-moving figure’) are realistically shaped metal figures of animals, crafted with articulated bodies and limbs that can be moved like real creatures.