Gyokuzan Asahi Paintings & Artwork for Sale | Gyokuzan Asahi Art Value Price Guide

Jun. 14, 2024
ASAHI GYOKUZAN: A RARE BAMBOO, WOOD AND ANTLER WALKING STICK, DATED 1919
Est: €2,000 - €4,000
ASAHI GYOKUZAN: A RARE BAMBOO, WOOD AND ANTLER WALKING STICK, DATED 1919 By Asahi Gyokuzan (1843-1923), signed to the original tomobako hakogaki Nanajunana-o Asahi Gyokuzan kinsei and sealed Gyokuzan Japan, dated 1919 Finely carved from a long section of bamboo, superbly polished, surmounted by a section of antler coronet on which a long-tailed pheasant is perched, the bird carved from a natural section of burled wood. The tip of the staff is inlaid in antler. With the original wood box inscribed to the hakogaki: Nanajunana-o ASAHI GYOKUZAN kinsei [reverently made by the the 77-year-old old man Asahi Gyokuzan] and seal GYOKUZAN. LENGTH 122 cm Condition: Excellent condition with minor typical wear and ‘natural flaws’ to the material. Born in Asakusa, Asahi Gyokuzan together with Ishikawa Komei (1852-1913) were designated Teishitsu gigeiin (Imperial Court Artists) and were two of the most famous and influential carvers in Japan during the Meiji Period (1868-1912). Gyokuzan first trained as a Buddhist priest in the late Edo Period, but as a young man Gyokuzan took to a more secular life as a carver. After becoming a professor at the Tokyo Art School, he later moved to Kyoto. There Gyokuzan re-established his Buddhist ties, while also mastering techniques of inlay. The artist was highly proficient in all types of materials, including wood, antler, and bamboo. The present piece is a rare object from Gyokuzan’s oeuvre, carved with reverence, the deceivingly simple carving showing the brilliance of this master carver.
Galerie Zacke
Dec. 08, 2023
A bamboo walking stick by Asahi Gyokuzan (1843-1923)
Est: €700 - €1,000
The carved bamboo shaft with a stag antler ferrule, the top formed by stag antler coronet, on which sits a long tailed bird, possibly a dove, carved from kiri-wood and forming the grip. Tomobako, signed inside the lid: Nanajūnana ō (the seventy-seven- year-old man) Asahi Gyokuzan kinsei (respectfully produced by Asahi Gyokuzan) and sealed Gyokuzan.
Kunsthaus Lempertz KG
Dec. 03, 2021
ASAHI GYOKUZAN: A SUPERB IVORY OKIMONO OF A SKELETON ATOP A TOAD CARRYING A MONKEY
Est: €3,000 - €6,000
By Asahi Gyokuzan (1843-1923), signed Asahi Gyokuzan Japan, Tokyo, Meiji (1868-1912) Finely carved and stained, the skeleton standing with one leg atop a giant separately carved toad with warty skin and large eyes with dark inlaid pupils, its skull cracked in several places and with cavernous eye sockets and a full set of teeth, suggesting a forced smile as it buckles under the weight of the rather fierce-looking monkey clambering on its back, wearing a shirt and fletching its teeth as it holds on to the rope around the skeleton’s neck. The skeleton is holding a globular koro (incense burner) in one hand and a large furled lotus leaf hangs from its pelvis. The underside signed ASAHI GYOKUZAN. HEIGHT 14 cm Condition: Good condition with minor wear and old repairs. Provenance: Belgian private collection. Born in Asakusa, Asahi Gyokuzan together with Ishikawa Komei (1852-1913) were designated Teishitsu gigeiin (Imperial Court Artist) and were two of the most famous and influential carvers in Japan during the Meiji Period (1868-1912). Gyokuzan first trained as a Buddhist priest in the late Edo Period, but as a young man he took to a more secular life as a carver. He soon became renowned for his unsettlingly realistic compositions of skulls and skeletons. He eventually achieved a higher distinction than that of his master, Takamura Koun (1852-1934), and his carvings earned him great admiration at the St Louis Exposition of 1904. This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore this item can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.
Galerie Zacke
Dec. 03, 2021
ASAHI GYOKUZAN: AN IVORY OKIMONO OF TWO SKELETONS
Est: €1,000 - €2,000
By Asahi Gyokuzan (1843-1923), signed Gyokuzan Japan, Tokyo, Meiji period (1868-1912) Intricately carved, the skeletons with openworked rib cages, deep cavernous eye sockets, and full sets of teeth, one standing and holding a staff suspending loose rings and the other seated, holding on to the staff with one hand and holding an alms bowl in the other. The underside of the lotus base carved with leaf veins and the signature GYOKUZAN. HEIGHT 12.5 cm Condition: Overall good condition with minor wear, the base with two small cracks, one showing remnants of an old repair. Provenance: Belgian private collection. Born in Asakusa, Asahi Gyokuzan together with Ishikawa Komei (1852-1913) were designated Teishitsu gigeiin (Imperial Court Artist) and were two of the most famous and influential carvers in Japan during the Meiji Period (1868-1912). Gyokuzan first trained as a Buddhist priest in the late Edo Period, but as a young man he took to a more secular life as a carver. He soon became renowned for his unsettlingly realistic compositions of skulls and skeletons. He eventually achieved a higher distinction than that of his master, Takamura Koun (1852-1934), and his carvings earned him great admiration at the St Louis Exposition of 1904. This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore this item can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.
Galerie Zacke
Jul. 06, 2017
CIRCLE OF ASAHI GYOKUZAN (1843 – 1923) JAPANESE, 19TH CENTURY | Group of Dancing Skeletons and Monkeys
Est: £2,500 - £3,500
ivory, with traces of polychromy
Sotheby's
May. 17, 2012
Other properties
Est: £3,000 - £5,000
By Asahi Gyokuzan (1843-1923), Taisho Period Naturalistically rendered, falling on his back as it is thrown off balance, bearing a startled expression as his hands and feet wave in the air, his left leg signed Gyokuzan, with separate wood stand and tomobako, dated and signed by the artist, with a long inscription possibly describing the contents inside, Taisho hinoto-mi no aki (in Autumn in Taisho 6, 1917), Gyokuzan with square seal Asahi. 5cm (2in) high, 9.7cm (3 13/16in) across. (3).
Bonhams
May. 17, 2012
By Asahi Gyokuzan (1843-1923), Meiji PeriodStanding on a detachable, circular wood stand, hunched and looking upwards, imitating a human,
Est: £4,000 - £6,000
By Asahi Gyokuzan (1843-1923), Meiji Period Standing on a detachable, circular wood stand, hunched and looking upwards, imitating a human, clutching an inverted bamboo cane in one hand with the other positioned against his hindquarters, its exaggeratedly long tail sweeping between its feet; signed in an oval reserve Asahi. The ape 22.7cm (8 7/8in) high, the stand 15.7cm (6 1/8in) diam. (2).
Bonhams
May. 12, 2011
An important documentary inlaid shirokiri (white paulownia) wood tebako (cosmetic box) and cover By Asahi Gyokuzan (1843-1923), dated 1912
Est: £200,000 - £250,000
By Asahi Gyokuzan (1843-1923), dated 1912 Decorated on the outside with flowering chrysanthemums, arranged in a diagonal composition across the domed cover, with the design of a single stalk continuing down one side, the inside of the cover with one plover in flight, the en-suite, fitted, detachable tray with two plovers in flight, the inside of the box embellished with drops of water inlaid in mother-of-pearl among pebbles, each side also applied with a shell and ring handle, all variously inlaid in wood, mother-of-pearl, pewter and coloured horn, set against the natural unpolished grain of white paulownia wood; the rim of silvered-metal, signed with circular seal Gyokuzan; with double tomobako dated and signed by the artist Meiji yonju-go nen go-gatsu (May in Meiji 45 [1912]), Asahi Gyokuzan saku with seal Gyokuzan. 7cm x 29.5cm x 21.5cm (2¾in x 11 5/8in x 8½in). (4).
Bonhams
Nov. 11, 2010
An inlaid shirokiri (white paulownia) wood box and cover By Asahi Gyokuzan (1843-1923), late Meiji Period
Est: £10,000 - £15,000
By Asahi Gyokuzan (1843-1923), late Meiji Period The right hand corner of the cover exquisitely ornamented in relief with three ducks swimming in a diagonal formation, the interior of the cover sparsely strewn with cherry florets and petals inlaid in mother-of-pearl, all reserved against the natural-wood-grain ground, the rims of the cover and box of silver; the underside of the box signed with seal Asahi; with wood storage box. 4.5cm x 24.7cm x 22cm (1¾in x 9¾in x 8 5/8in). (3).
Bonhams
Nov. 11, 2010
An inlaid shirokiri (white paulownia) wood hirobuta (presentation tray) By Asahi Gyokuzan (1843-1923), Meiji Period
Est: £40,000 - £60,000
By Asahi Gyokuzan (1843-1923), Meiji Period Decorated on the inside on the far left corner of the tray with an open fan design, enclosing red and white Winter plums in partial bloom, variously inlaid in wood, mother-of-pearl, pewter and coloured horn set against the natural unpolished grain of white paulownia wood; the rim of silvered metal, signed Gyokuzan, with double tomobako signed by the artist Asahi Gyokuzan saku with seal Gyokuzan. 5cm x 34.3cm x 48.7cm (2in x 13½in x 19 1/16in). (3).
Bonhams