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Decorated Shells for Japanese Shell-Matching Game browse these categories for related items... All Items: Vintage Arts:Regional Art:Asian:Japanese: Pre 1960: item # 965293 Please refer to our stock # 9-112 when inquiring.
B & C Antiques P. O. Box 291 Derby, CT 06418 203-929-7312 Guest Book SOLD |
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These lovely matched clam shell halves, decorated with colorful Japanese court scenes and gold enamel highlights, are replicas of the painted shells originally used during the Edo period for the Japanese shell matching game. They were purchased in Japan in the 1950’s. Each half is decorated with noblemen and noblewomen in conventional Heian court scenes in the painting style of Tosa. The wonderfully detailed print renderings incorporate elements long associated with the Tosa school, such as the Heian-style court dress and misty gilt cloud formations. Shell-matching (“kai-awase”) was a popular amusement of the Edo period, and its equipment was often included in the suite of lacquer furniture that was part of the bridal trousseau of a daimyo lady. Each half of a shell was decorated with an identical miniature painting based on a scene derived from Japanese classical literature. The “Tale of Genji” and other romances were the most common sources of imagery. A complete set comprised 360 shells. The game was basically a test of memory: one set of shell halves was placed face down on the floor, and as shells from the second set were removed face up from an octagonal shaped lacquer container (“kaioke” or “shell bucket”), competitors took turns inverting shells to see if images matched. (See “Edo: Art in Japan 1615-1868” by Robert T. Singer.) Since each side of the bivalve shells will match properly with only its original mate, the game came to be associated with marital fidelity. CONDITION is perfect. These two shell halves are original mates. They come in their original cardboard box. DIMENSIONS: Each shell is 3 ¼” (8.4 cm) x 2 ½” (6.4 cm). |
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