OGAWA HARITSU (RITSUO) (1663-1747)A PAIR OF RARE WOOD SCULPTURES OF NIO EDO PERIOD, LATE 17TH - EARLY 18TH CENTURY EACH SEALED RITSUO |

the kongorishiki figures are carved from dark-stained softwood with oil litharge lacquer decoration to the skirts; each bears the seal Ritsuo in takamaki-e under the skirt, the figure of Misshaku kongo is open-mouthed whereas Naraen kongo has his mouth closed, they symbolise the first and last syllables of the Sanskrit alphabet, Ah and Un (Hum) thus forming the opening and closing of the universe, the mantra of all existence: Om

Dr. Ernest Hart, London, Siegfried Bing, Paris,

Charles Gillot, Paris,

Auctioned by Maître Paul Chevallier for Galeries de MM. Durand-Ruel, Paris, in February 1904,

Repurchased by Gillot's widow,

Ancienne Collection Charles Gillot (1853-1903), Christie's, Paris, 4-5 March 2008

Siegfried Bing, Le Japon Artistique, Vol. 2, p. 141 Galeries de MM. Durand-Ruel, Collection Ch. Gillot, Objets d'Art et Peintures d'Extreme-Orient (Paris, 1904), pp. 38 - 39.

In 1888 these sculptures were in the collection of English collector Dr. Ernest Hart who wrote in Siegfried Bing's Le Japon Artistique the sculptures were identified as being by Ritsuo. In 1904 when offered in the Paris sale, Galeries de MM. Durand-Ruel, the seals had become obscured and were dated as Kamakura period. This dating was followed in the 2008 sale. Recently the obscured seals were discovered, revealing their true attribution after over 100 years. For details of the signature and seals see Wrangham, E. A., The Index of Inro Artists (Northumberland, 1995), pp.211-213.