Caption

Lobster-shaped okimono Ise ebi, bronze jizai okimono depicting a lobster; late 19th century Meiji period, 1868–1912, Japan; Japanese art; marine animal figurine; length 42.0 cm, width 21.0 cm, weight 1.08 kg. This type of lobster is called Ise ebi because many are harvested in Ise Province Mie Prefecture. The lobster's spiny shell is said to protect people from demons oni and bring good luck. In some regions of Ise Province, there is an old custom of decorating sacred ropes shimenawa at shrines with lobster shells., A sculpted crustacean-like object rests on a smooth surface, showing a segmented body with a textured carapace and a fan-shaped tail. It has multiple jointed legs splayed beneath the midsection and a pair of long, slender antennae extending forward. The surface of the object appears metallic with a brown tone, and the background transitions from light gray near the surface to darker gray higher up.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A22_417

License type

Rights managed

Available size

77.2Mb (676.9Kb) / 20.0in x 15.0in / 6000 x 4500 (300dpi)

Keywords

Lobster-shaped okimono Ise ebi bronze jizai okimono depicting lobster late 19th century Meiji period 1868–1912 Japan Japanese art marine animal figurine length 42.0 cm width 21.0 cm weight 1.08 kg type called Ise ebi harvested Ise Province Mie Prefecture lobster's spiny shell said protect people demons oni bring good luck regions Ise Province old custom decorating sacred ropes shimenawa shrines lobster shells sculpted crustacean- object rests smooth surface showing segmented body textured carapace fan-shaped tail multiple jointed legs splayed beneath midsection pair long slender antennae extending forward surface object metallic brown tone background transitions light gray near darker gray higher up.