Ogata Gekkô (1859-1920)
A white mouse (or rat) sitting on the wooden mallet of the Lucky God Daikoku. The mallet is embellished with three wish-fulfilling flaming buddhist jewels (hôju no tama). The zodiac animal nezumi (mouse or rat), combined with Daikoku, one of the Shichifukujin, the seven Japanese lucky gods, symbolises happiness and wealth.
Signature: Gekkô
Seal: Kichiki (o. Kichichûkichi)
Publisher: (Matsuki Heikichi, Daikokuya), Tokyo
Date: ca. 1900-1910
Original Japanese colour woodblock print. Size: Shikishiban, 23.8 x 25 cm
Excellent impression and colours, with metal pigments. Unbacked and untrimmed. A few weak small (possibly printer's) smudges; verso at upper corners two small glue spots from previous attachment. Overall very nice, crisp condition.
Ill. Milne Henderson, Zeshin & Related Artists, London, n.d. (1978?), no. 36. Cf. also British Museum, Morrison Coll. 1946,0209,0.109; Freer/Sackler No. S2001.11
sold