Lobster-shaped okimono Ise ebi, bronze jizai okimono depicting a lobster, Meiji period, late 19th century 1868–1912, Japan. Inscription/notes: This type of lobster is called Ise ebi because many are harvested in Ise Province Mie Prefecture; the spiny shell is said to protect people from demons oni and bring good luck. In some regions of Ise Province, lobster shells were used to decorate sacred ropes shimenawa at shrines. Dimensions: length 42.0 cm, width 21.0 cm; weight 1.08 kg., A sculptural object resembling an elongated arthropod sits centered on a smooth surface, rendered in dark brown with subtle variations of warmer brown tones; it has a segmented body tapering toward the rear and a rounded front with a textured surface, and a group of long jointed appendages extending forward and to the sides, each limb ending in an oval, ridged tip. The background transitions from a very light off-white at the bottom to a soft gray gradient toward the top, and the surface beneath the object sha...
Caption

Lobster-shaped okimono Ise ebi, bronze jizai okimono depicting a lobster, Meiji period, late 19th century 1868–1912, Japan. Inscription/notes: This type of lobster is called Ise ebi because many are harvested in Ise Province Mie Prefecture; the spiny shell is said to protect people from demons oni and bring good luck. In some regions of Ise Province, lobster shells were used to decorate sacred ropes shimenawa at shrines. Dimensions: length 42.0 cm, width 21.0 cm; weight 1.08 kg., A sculptural object resembling an elongated arthropod sits centered on a smooth surface, rendered in dark brown with subtle variations of warmer brown tones; it has a segmented body tapering toward the rear and a rounded front with a textured surface, and a group of long jointed appendages extending forward and to the sides, each limb ending in an oval, ridged tip. The background transitions from a very light off-white at the bottom to a soft gray gradient toward the top, and the surface beneath the object shares the light off-white color. The object casts faint, soft-edged shadows on the surface beneath it.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A22_418

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Rights managed

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77.2Mb (533.4Kb) / 20.0in x 15.0in / 6000 x 4500 (300dpi)

Keywords

Lobster-shaped okimono Ise ebi bronze jizai okimono depicting lobster Meiji period late 19th century 1868–1912 Japan Inscription notes type called Ise ebi harvested Ise Province Mie Prefecture spiny shell said protect people demons oni bring good luck regions Ise Province lobster shells decorate sacred ropes shimenawa shrines Dimensions length 42.0 cm width 21.0 cm weight 1.08 kg sculptural object resembling elongated arthropod sits centered smooth surface rendered dark brown subtle variations warmer brown tones segmented body tapering rear rounded front textured surface group long jointed appendages extending forward sides limb ending oval ridged tip background transitions light off-white bottom soft gray gradient top surface beneath object shares light off-white color object casts faint soft-edged shadows .

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