Whom You Know: PHOTOCALL: 17TH-19TH CENTURY JAPANESE ARMOUR AND UNIQUE 18TH CENTURY DRAGON AT BONHAMS

Friday, November 5, 2010

PHOTOCALL: 17TH-19TH CENTURY JAPANESE ARMOUR AND UNIQUE 18TH CENTURY DRAGON AT BONHAMS

Dating from the 17^th- 19^th centuries the plated armour is a far cry from the bulky European suits of the same time. Consisting of iron plates laced together by cord, the suits include facial masks, white hair, beards and moustaches.

A mix of bright colours and textures in unusual materials such as black lacquer, leather, white fur, gilt copper and iron, the armour is also embossed with animals from dragons to elephants. The effect would literally have stopped you in your tracks. Each suit is valued between £3,000 – 60,000.

Also on view will be a unique, fully articulated iron dragon. The 133cm long creature is estimated to sell for £120,000 – 130,000.

The dragon is a stunning example of jizai okimono, naturalistic, fully articulated iron animal figures, whose bodies and limbs can be moved replicating their counterparts in real life. The extraordinary dragon offered by Bonhams has a long serpentine and undulating body, forged with numerous scales that have been joined inside the body. The head, mouth, claws and ears are each constructed of moving parts and the leg joints can turn 180 degrees.

Although little is known about the origin and development of jizai okimono as works of art, this dragon was created in the Edo Period (18^th/19^th century) by the Myochin School. Historically, members of the Myochin Family were supreme armour makers and famous for their excellent iron forging and hammer work. However, during the protracted long peaceful Edo period there was less demand for the manufacture of armour and the family used their craftsmanship and expertise to create other objects, including jizai okimono. Following the Government’s policy of promoting industry and exporting decorative art, many jizai okimono found their way to the West and have been of fascination ever since.

www.bonhams.com/japanese

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son and Neale UK. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street, and Knightsbridge, and a further five throughout the UK. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel, New York and Boston in the USA; Toronto, Canada; and France, Monaco, Australia, Hong Kong and Dubai. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 27 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 57 specialist areas. By the end of 2009, Bonhams had become UK market leaders in ten key specialist collecting areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, go towww.bonhams.com

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