Ivory Lacquered Cockerel Tusk Vase Meiji Period

A magnificent Meiji period ivory tusk vase. (1868-1912)

A cockerel (rooster) perched on the branch of a flowering plum tree the tail feathers flowing around, bamboo leafy canes in the background.
The reverse portraying a hen amongst young pines.
Painted in the finest of details using the different Japanese lacquer techniques.
This exquisite ivory tusk is a Meiji Period Masterpiece.

Signed: Houn

Refer the large images for details & condition. Please note... depending on your computer monitor / phone / ipad etc. colour may vary to actual.

Condition: Excellent
Dimensions are maximum measurement
Ivory
Height about : 41.5 cm
Length about: 13.5 cm
Depth about: 10.7 cm
Weight about 4kg
A$19,500

The subject of this outstanding ivory masterpiece brings together two symbolic and auspicious representations
The Cockerel (Rooster)
In Japanese mythology, the rooster holds a significant role and is believed to possess protective qualities. Rooster symbolism in Japanese culture portrays this bird as a symbol of bravery and protection in Japanese folklore. The rooster is often associated with the deity Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun and one of the most important figures in Shintoism.
In Japanese folklore, it is said that the crowing of a rooster can ward off evil spirits and bring good luck. This belief stems from the idea that the rooster’s crowing announces the dawn, signalling the end of darkness and bringing forth a new day filled with positivity. The rooster’s ability to banish darkness aligns with its symbolic representation as a protector against evil forces.
Additionally, in traditional Japanese art and literature, depictions of brave warriors are often accompanied by images of roosters. This association highlights the connection between courage and protection embodied by both these symbols. Roosters are seen as fierce animals that fearlessly defend their territory, making them an ideal representation of bravery.
The rooster’s protective qualities are also evident in other aspects of Japanese culture. For example, during New Year celebrations, families display decorative ceramic or wooden roosters outside their homes to ward off bad luck for the upcoming year.

Pine Bamboo Plum Sho-Chiku-Bai is an ancient and auspicious Japanese motif.
These three “Friends of Winter” essentially provide an allegory for weathering hard times through their various attributes. A pine tree’s roots are tenacious and will borrow deep, or, as need be, find their way to hold-fast on even the craggiest, rock-strewn outcropping. They endure, no matter the circumstances.
Bamboo finds its strength in knowing how to give and bend without breaking when even the strongest winds blow.
In Japan the plum tree is the first to bud and blossom in the late winter, even when its limbs may remain snow-laden: the plum gives us hope, showing us that spring and new opportunities for beauty and joy are just around the corner. Strength and tenacity, the ability to bend but not break when adversity swirls around us, the promise of hope even when coldness won’t release its grasp on us.
The Three Friends of Winter, Sho-Chiku-Bai 松竹梅