Untitled

Unknown

19th century · Wood and ivory · Asian Art

Carvers often select rare and expensive woods for their creations or juxtapose various materials in novel compositions. Embedding one material into another requires the utmost precision, particularly when joining materials of differing physical properties, such as wood and ivory. In this example, a young boy playing a flute, carved of ivory, serenades a recumbent ox, made of wood. Fine lines incised on the surface of the ox delineate individual hairs on its hide. The red seal on the ox's underside reads "Tokoku."

Artist

Unknown

Date

19th century

Medium

Wood and ivory

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Mrs. Russell Sage, 1910