Meiji Period Ivory Geisha Carving
Appraised Value:
$20,000 - $20,000
IMAGE: 1 of 1
Appraisal Video:
Appraised By:
James Callahan
Asian Arts
Director, Asian Works of Art
Skinner, Inc.
Appraisal Transcript:
GUEST: My husband's uncle spent a lot of time in Japan. He lived there for 29 years.
APPRAISER: Wow, a long time.
GUEST: And he was there in the war with General MacArthur. He was one of his staff members. And in occupied Japan, he was made director of textile industry. Then he was offered a job-- the American Trading Company, and he worked there for the remainder of those 29 years. He was given this piece by one of the industrialists there.
APPRAISER: Oh, really! Because when he was given the piece, it was probably... a good 60, 70 years old at the time. 'Cause it was made during the Meiji Period...
GUEST: Right.
APPRAISER: where it's 1868 to 1912. And it's a particularly spectacular carving just for its size alone. And the technical expertise is phenomenal on it. The inside of the parasol, he has all the stays that are in there as though it was a real parasol. And then the work on the face, the hair-- the back of it is just as gorgeous as the front. I mean, when you turn it, you can just see that every inch of that is incredibly carved in just amazing quality. And you kept it in great condition. Pretty face, too. Probably a geisha, actually.
GUEST: Right.
APPRAISER: These beautiful flowers on the bottom. It's just amazing work. There are some cracks to the ivory, but that's basically in the nature of the beast. You know, that just happens to this kind of material.
GUEST: I thought maybe that was the case.
APPRAISER: In some of them, they've actually made them look like they're seams in the kimono. I think they've even carved some of them over. I'd say you would have to insure this piece for around $20,000.
