A bone group of four skulls, arranged in a group of three as a foundation and single one on the top. The skulls are graduated in size, which creates a picture of the individuals that they originally belonged to, particularly the smallest example, which likely denotes the skull of a youth. The skull on the top, demonstrates a wound, likely from a blow. A hole at the base of the largest skull, anatomically correct for where the brain stem would be, cleverly forms part of the himotoshi.
Likely the inscription reads, Hosai 法斎, however one must admit the reading is tentative. The style is reminiscent of the artist Sessai 雪斎.
4.1cm wide.
Multiple groups of skulls are referenced alongside the warrior-statesman Taira no Kiyomori, apparently, who would dream of the skulls that belonged to the victims that died on account of the decisions that he made. Also, four ( Shi 四) tends to be considered an unlucky number due to the relationship with the sounding word for death (Shi 死).
Included in the INS auction report vol. 39, no. 3, 2019. Achieving 5456 Euros.
Private German Collection.
