Product Description

6130 A roiro (black lacquer) okimono (decorative object) of a bull.

Signed: Hakutei saku (made by Hakutei)

Japan 20th century Shōwa period

Dimensions: H. 8½” x W. 16¼” (21.5cm x 41cm)

Tomobako (original box) lid inscribed:
Outside: Seigyu (Holy Bull)
Inside: Yokoyama Hakutei saku (made by Yokoyama Hakutei
Seal: Hakutei

Yokoyama Hakutei II (1901-1972), was the eldest son of Hakutei I (Yokoyama Sakutaro) whose family had been engaged in wood-sculpting for 200 years in the Inami region, Toyama, making a great contribution as wood-craftsmen in redecorating the Zuisenji temple, Inami, Toyama. Hakutei II (Yokoyama Toyotaro) studied at the Takaoka kenritsu kogei gakko (Takaoka prefectural Art Crafts School) and decided to follow his family path as an artisan-craftsman. He studied sculpting under Watanabe Kogai (1874-1961) and the notable artist Professor Yamasaki Kakutaro (1899-1984). In Showa 16, (1941), at the 4th Bunten exhibition he won a prize for his parquetry work and gained recognition as a leading artist of the Tonami region of Takaoka prefecture.

After the war, he exhibited at the annual Nitten shows and at the 7th Nitten, (Showa 26, 1951), he won a special prize for his work of a lacquer screen entitled Kitakaze (North Wind). He was a judge twice for the Nitten exhibitions in Showa 34 and Showa 39 (1959 & 1964). He received a prize for his lacquer work, a three-fold screen entitled Chinkonka (Requiem). In Showa 47 (1972), he was made a member of the jury of the Nitten exhibition committee. He exhibited annually at the Gendai Kogei Bijutsuka Kyokai (Contemporary Arts and Crafts Artists’ Association) founded in 1961. As a part of touring exhibitions abroad organized by the aforementioned Association, he visited eleven European countries over a six week period.

Throughout his career he devoted himself to promoting the art and crafts heritage in Tonami, Toyama prefecture and was instrumental in educating the next generation of artists in the region.