$1,300
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Description
2" (5 cm.) Small-scale Muromachi-style dairi-bina (imperial couple) with bodies each carved of a single piece of a well-patinated boxwood, and heads of bone with lightly carved features and painted details, include the o-bina (imperial lord) depicted seated with arms down, flaring robe sleeves and front apron, and the me-bina (imperial lady), interestingly carved with arms wide spread with flowing sleeves, obi tie belt and full hakama trousers, and having long side braids. Meiji Era, late 19th century. Okimono are carved objects designed for display. They were generally decorative objects rather than components of festival rituals. Tsuge boxwood was a popular wood used in both okimono and netsuke toggles and was prized not only for its carvability, but also its deep patina that developed through repeated handling. This particular set appears to be a direct copy of the early 18th century hina form known as a Muromachi-bina. The whiteness of the bone used here is a wonderful approximation of gofun.