MANJU
47 RONINS
25 images
In Japan, the 47 ronin are revered for their greatest loyalty to duty and honor, an impressive story! While creating a sketch for a netsuke, I referred to Utagawa Kuniyoshi’s engravings from the Orlov-Kretschmer collection “47 Loyal Ronin” from the exhibition at the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts. I was impressed by the elevated images of the samurai; their names remained in history and people’s memory, while the names of the samurai who defended Kira faded into oblivion. This served as the basis for the sketch. I captured only the images of the 47 ronin, who remain in our memory as invincible warriors, preserving valor and honor. Manju netsuke 47 RONINS was carved from mammoth tusk, Japanese Urushi lacquers, 6.3 cm across, August 2024
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RAVEN
4 images
In Japan, the raven is called Karasu. This beautiful black bird was often depicted in engravings, poems were dedicated to it, myths and legends were invented. The Ainu considered the raven a deity and identifying with the snake, calling it the "black snake", they believed that these birds could affect luck in fishing and human life in general. The Ainu have a legend that a raven saved the sun that had been swallowed by an evil spirit. The most famous raven in Japanese culture is the giant Yatagarasu, sent from heaven by the sun goddess Amaterasu to lead the legendary Emperor Jimmu, on his campaign to found Japan, through the mountain passes from Kumano to Yamato. Manju netsuke is carved from black ebony wood, burned with a needle, dark amber inlay on gold foil, Japanese Urushi varnishes. 5.2 cm in diameter. 2023 Available for purchase.
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