MYOCHIN: A MASTERFUL IRON ARTICULATED JIZAI OKIMONO OF A CRABBy a member of the Myochin family, signed MyochinJapan, 18th-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)The russet-iron crab masterfully constructed of numerous hammered plates jointed inside the body, the eyes, limbs, claws and legs movable, the details finely carved and chiseled, the eyes embellished with gilt.LENGTH 26 cmWEIGHT 282 gCondition: The end-piece of one leg lost with an associated repair. Otherwise excellent condition with minor wear.Provenance: From a Swiss private collection.The art of creating lifelike figures of animals in metal, known as jizai okimono, which developed during the Edo period, is an example of outstanding Japanese craftsmanship. Meticulously constructed with hammered plates of iron, these articulated figures were greatly sought after for decorative use. They were placed in alcoves alongside pieces of porcelain, pottery and hanging scrolls, and were the object of entertainment and discussion.Popular subjects for jizai okimono included insects, fish, crustaceans, and even dragons. This articulated crab is an outstanding example of such objects and was made by the famous Myochin family workshop, renowned for its production of Samurai armor, especially helmets and highly decorative embossed plate iron cuirasses.Auction comparison:Compare a closely related articulated iron okimono of a crab, unsigned and measuring 38.4 cm, at Christie’s, An Inquiring Mind: American Collecting of Japanese and Korean Art, 22 April 2015, New York, lot 93 (sold for 45,000 USD).