Haruaki Hōgen menuki

[kyushukairu]

The latest addition to my collection is a set of menuki depicting Fukurokuju (福禄寿) holding a minogame (蓑亀) and an attendant carrying a sacred jewel and peony. Based in shakudō, with iro-e features in silver, copper and gold, and takabori embellishment. Fukurokuju is adorned with a stylised mon of the three friends of winter: bamboo, pine, and plum blossom, whilst his attendant bears the circled crane mon, which was a symbol of nobility from the Kamakura period. 

 

The main subject, Fukurokuju is one of the seven lucky gods, and whose name literally means 'happiness (福), wealth (禄), longevity (寿)'. Fukurokuju is depicted holding a minogame, which is a symbol of longevity, and whose shell is believed to have accumulated seaweed over a thousand years. The second menuki depicts an attendant holding a sacred jewel and peony. Known as the queen of the flowers in Japanese mythology, peonies are an emblem of regal power. The sacred jewel or hōju (宝珠) is a wish-fulfilling jewel associated with Buddhism. Together these menuki thus symbolise happiness, wealth, and longevity. And although this is expressed through the presence of Fukurokuju alone, these qualities are emphasised by the minogame's association with longevity and the hōju as granting happiness and wealth through wish-fulfilment.  

 

The menuki are signed 'Haruaki' (春明) on Fukurokuju 's feet, and 'April 1839' [The fourth lunar month of Tenpo, year of the snake] (天保己亥仲呂) on the reverse. The attendant bears the kanji for Hōgen (法眼) respectively beneath his hand holding the sacred jewel and on the top leaf of the peony Haruaki's stylised signature, or kaō (花押) is also engraved on the reverse.

 

Kōno Haruaki (河野春明), more commonly known as Haruaki Hōgen (春明法眼), was born in Echigo province in 1787 (天明七) and died in 1857 (安政四) aged 71. At 16 years old he travelled to Edo to take up an apprenticeship with Yanagawa Naoharu, 3rd generation of the Yanagawa school. After mastering the Yanagawa style - of shakudō-nanako and takabori-iroe - Haruaki then developed his own style and went on to establish the Kōno school. At the age of 40 Haruaki achieved the Buddhist rank of hōgen, and began to use this in his signature. This particular set of menuki was produced when Haruaki was 51 years old and at the height of his creative powers. In the late Edo period, there was a saying, 'Ichijō in the West (Kyōto), Haruaki in the East (Edo)' recognising that Haruaki's workmanship rivalled that of Gotō Ichijō.

 

Provenance: Sold in Bonham's Fine Japanese Art sale in London, 2010. 

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/17816/lot/47/ 
*Thanks to Paul (Myochin) for scanning and sending the images from the catalogue.

 

References

Joly, Henry. (1953). Legend in Japanese Art. London: John Lane Company. 
Sesko, Markus. (2012). The Japanese Toso-Kinko Schools. Lulu Inc.

 

[Brian]

Beautiful set, showing a lot of fine detail. Well done and thanks for sharing.

[Tanto54]

Nice menuki - Great writeup!

[myochin]

Nice writeup, thanks Kyle !

[kyushukairu]

Thanks chaps! I've also gained some further information:
Firstly, the title hōgen means 'the dharma eye' and is the second highest priestly ranking, suggesting that Haruaki was also quite a well-established Buddhist.
It has also been suggested that the second menuki may depict Hōkan Bosatsu (宝冠菩薩) - also known as  Ratnamakuta, and Hōkan-dōji (宝冠童子) - who is typically represented as a child holding the hōju in his right hand and a lotus flower (蓮華) in his left, he also had his hair tied in three bundles (三髻) which is consistent with the menuki