Ivory Carving Okimono - JAPANESE FOO DOG VASES - Meiji Start Price USD 15,000.00 Current Price USD 15,000.00 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 FOO DOG VASES - Meiji' Description Thank you very much for considering these beautiful works 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. These carvings are 100% genuine AFRICAN ELEPHANT IVORY and in EXCELLENT CONDITION.  They were HAND CARVED and HAND SCRIMSHAWED in Japan by a gifted master craftsman during the 1800s.  They have a lovely patina that only nature could bestow upon them. These okimono are UNIQUE and exhibit 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. These carvings were legally imported into the USA. These carvings 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! Foo Dogs carrying Vases Extremely Rare... Extremely Detailed.... Extremely Beautiful..... These amazing Japanese ivory okimono museum pieces showcase a ferocious pair of Foo Dogs carrying vases on their backs each with two little boys in attendance and a baby Foo Dog at their feet. Sotheby's appraised this marvelous pair for $18,000 in the 1980s. They were carved during the Meiji Period (1868 - 1912). Each Foo Dog supports a vase that is intricately carved in deep relief with Clouds, Taotie Masks and Dragons chasing the Flaming Pearl of Knowledge. The Taotie is a face that resembles, but never really captures, the true likeness of an animal with a cruel fearful countenance.  To alien clans it symbolized fear and force.  To one's own clan it was a symbol of protection.  In Chinese mythology Taotie was one of the nine dragon children.  The Tatoie Mask is a monster represented without the jaw and has a head but no body.  It tries to devour man but its body is destroyed before it is able to swallow him.  It was the principal decorative motif used during the Shang period.  The Foo Dog is the symbol of good fortune, luck and wisdom and is placed at the entrance of a home, temple, palace or other building to guard the occupants from evil and harmful spirits.  The Foo Dog is the emblem of valor and energy – the indispensable compliments of wisdom. The dragon is the symbol of luck, wealth, good fortune and wisdom.  The dragon represents male vigor and fertility and is also the imperial emblem of the Emperor.   The dragon is the symbol of the emperor and ranks first amongst the 4 supernatural creatures.   The flaming pearl is said to grant all desires and was capable of confering knowledge and enlightenment.  A boy on the head of one Foo Dog calls down to a second boy holding a fish banner with a tassel.  The twin fish are a symbol of fertility and conjugal felicity and are often found on wedding gifts. The boy on the head of the other Foo Dog is holding a fan.  He looks down at the other boy who is holding a Ju-I scepter.  The Ju-I in the Ch'ing Dynasty was presented to high court officials as a marker of Imperial favor.  The Ju-i tradition is thousands of years old.  Originally thought to be a short sword, used for pointing, it later became a primitive phallic symbol given by the Emperor to a favorite consort.  It reached its present symbolism in the Tang Dynasty during the 7th and 8th centuries. The details on these pieces are just fantastic.  Words cannot adequately describe the beauty of these glorious carvings.  It is truly amazing that these works of art have survived in this condition for all of these years.   The facial features of the Foo Dogs and the boys are perfectly carved and really reflective of the theme envisioned by the artist.  The carving on the bodies of the Foo Dogs, the bodies of the boys and the carving on the vases is done in such intimate detail it defies description. The rarity of these marvelous carvings add to their overall mystique and desirability.  The amazing detail assures you this is the work of a true master carver.  These are pieces of Japanese art that you will never again see offered for sale and the quality is at the very pinnacle of Japanese ivory carvings.  These incredible pieces will enhance your collection of fine Japanese ivory okimonos for many years to come and should significantly increase in value into the forseeable future. Dimensions (Each):  9.75" x 5.50" x 2.50"  Weight (Combined):  4 Pounds, 11 ounces   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!

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