Carved Wooden Ministers of The Left and The Right, Early 1800s

Live Auction

11" (28 cm.) Two men, posed standing, one depicting youth and one depicting an aged man, each with carved wooden head having distinctive very pronounced nose, gofun finish, painted facial features, and carved wooden hands. The older man has sculpted detail of age lines, and silk fiber grey hair, sidelocks, brows, moustache and beard, and the youthful man has black silk fiber hair, sidelocks and elongated beard. Each is wearing elaborate silk costume with dragon design, accented by luxury black velvet trim, along with a textured Eboshi cap, and each carries a sword, and bow and arrow. Generally excellent. Edo period, circa 1800, representing the Ministers of the Left and the Right, they trace their historical connection to the Shinto shrine guardian figures, their function as attendants having more symbolic significance than actual physical protection.