GATE FRAME. WOOD.
Japan. Edo/Meiji period. 19th century.

Heavy; elegantly grained wood (presumably hinoki); carved in high relief with open work. In the top part (lintel) the Rakan Handaka Sonja; a successor of Buddha; who is able to make dragons appear from his charity bowl. This dragon is coiling between clouds and is watched by several boys. The two lateral sections; which are each consisting of two parts; show further dragons and on one side the immortal Gama Sennin with his three-legged toad on his shoulder; on the other the immortal Shoriken (Zhongli Quan) with his leaf fan. On the back dated and signed: Bunsei 2nd year; a lucky day in August (1819); Shinsh?Matsumoto (no) ju Tomiyasu (Tomiyasu living in Matsumoto; pref. Shinsh?(today Nagano). Top section width ca. 185cm; lateral sections made of two parts; each ca. 92 x 25cm. Condition A/B.Art trade; Van Ham.