Planet Antiques

Description

Japanese Mingei Ichibori Frog.

Code 319
40 long 36 wide 27 high cms (approx)

Hand carved Japanese Mingei Ichibori folk art frog, made from one piece of hardwood that has been carved into a useful box in the form of a frog. Popular in Japan the frog is a spiritual symbol of luck and good fortune and in western cultures the frog or toad are symbols of resurrection and new life and used as motives in art and culture.

Mingei is a Japanese word for folk art and Ichibori is the word for a carved block of wood hence the name. After a bit of research we date this to the late 1800s to very early 1900s given the type of carving, size and weight which puts this at late Meiji period in Japanese history. Meiji period ran from 25 jan 1868 until 30 July 1912 and the word Meiji means “enlightened peace” as chosen by the Japanese emporer. Earlier folk art boxes of this type would have been heavily carved and may have had bright vibrant colours and are very very rare to find but later on into this period designs were simpler in design but much bigger and bolder.

Condition.
As per pictures there is a slight crack to the base which is stable and secure so not really an issue, applied paint in my opinion has been added at some point. Overall a very useful and collectible item that I’m sure someone will love.