Ivory Carving Okimono - JAPANESE GEISHA - TOKYO SCHOOL Start Price USD 17,500.00 Current Price USD 17,500.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Saturday, November 15, 2008 End Time Monday, December 15, 2008 Location Las Vegas, NV See more about 'Ivory Carving Okimono - JAPANESE GEISHA - TOKYO SCHOOL' Description Thank you very much for considering this beautiful work of art.  We are now retired and must part with a collection of over 100 ivory carvings we have loved and taken care of for nearly 40 years.  We are very proud to offer only the very FINEST in QUALITY ivory carvings. This carving is 100% genuine AFRICAN ELEPHANT IVORY and in EXCELLENT CONDITION.  It was HAND CARVED and HAND SCRIMSHAWED and SIGNED in Japan by a gifted master craftsman in the late 1800s.  It has a lovely patina that nature has chosen to bestow upon it. This okimono is UNIQUE and exhibits beautiful IVORY GRAIN which is guaranteed to be clearly visible.  The ivory has been highly polished and exquisitely detailed.  The quality of the ivory, the quality of the carving and the quality of the scrimshaw work are all exceptional. This carving was legally imported into the USA. This carving can only be shipped to locations within the USA. Effective January 1, 2009 Ebay will not permit ivory to be bought or sold on Ebay! Japanese Geisha This is an incredible Tokyo School Japanese ivory okimono of a Geisha holding a fan that was carved during the Meiji Period (1868 - 1912).  Tokyo School carvings of this size and quality are almost impossible to find for sale anymore. The finest carvings to come from Japan were from the Tokyo School of Art founded in 1887 with the aim of combining traditional skills and Western influences.  Tokyo School carvings are generally quite large and carved from a single section of tusk.  In 1890 the government implimented the system of Imperial Court Craftsmen whereby the Imperial Household accorded honor and protection to master craftsmen.  Let's take a close look at the stunning details of this marvelous carving. Her facial features are absolutely adorable.  Her hair is beautifully done and cascades down the back of her neck. Beautiful chrysanthemums decorate both her hat and her robe.  The elaborate detailing on her hat gives you some indication of the skill of the artist.  Please note not only the details of the flowers but also the fine details of the hat itself.  There is even a little bird that sits upon the back of her hat! She has a purse within the folds of her kimono and tassel fixings hang down from it.  Once again the amount of detail bestowed upon this carving by the artist is nothing short of fantastic. She has an inro (the little pouch in front of her) that is used for carrying a seal or spices.  The inro is also elaborately decorated and further enhances the beauty of this piece. Please notice how delicate her fingers are with her right hand clutching her robe while her left hand clutches her fan.  A lovely tassel hangs from the fan and is carved in great detail. The folds in her kimono are a work of art in and of themselves.  It takes a special artist to bring such a sense of realism to this outstanding work of art. She has a beautifully decorated obi on her back with a design of cranes (long life symbols) and minogame (a mythical tortoise with a hairy tail that symbolizes long life) on water.  Please note how the artist has even carried forward the folds in her kimono to the back of her garment and how the lovely flowers circumvent and adorn the entire carving. Finally the artist has even taken the time to expertly carve both her feet and her sandals - details that simply add to the overall desirability of this masterpiece.   The rarity of this marvelous carving adds to its overall mystique and desirability.  The amazing detail indicates this is the work of a true master carver.  This is a piece of Japanese art that you will very seldom have a chance to acquire and the quality of this work of art is at the very pinnacle of Japanese ivory okimono carvings.  It is difficult to express in words just how beautiful this carving is. It is signed by the gifted artist Gyakuto on the underside of the base. This superb Tokyo School carving can serve as the centerpiece of your fine Japanese ivory okimono collection for many years to come and should steadily increase in value over the years. Dimensions:  13.50" x 5.00" x 4.50"  Weight:  4 Pounds, 8 ounces Signature:  Gyakuto   We accept Checks, Money Orders and Wire Transfers  PLEASE VISIT MY EBAY STORE TO SEE MANY MORE BEAUTIFUL IVORY CARVINGS Powered by eBay Turbo ListerThe free listing tool. List your items fast and easy and manage your active items. Place a Bid!