"The Seashell, The Bearer, And The Helper: Japanese Okimono In Ivory"
This magnificent ivory sculpture captures the moment when the main figure, crouching, is struggling to rise under an impressive weight. The effort is counterbalanced by his jovial expression, typical of Japanese Okimono art. His burden is a large spiral conch shell, firmly secured by braided ropes. A second figure is perched on the shell, stabilizing the load and sharing the effort. The work excels in its rendering of texture: the roughness of the shell, the braiding of the supporting basket, and the fluidity of the clothing. This scene symbolizes perseverance or the accomplishment of a laborious task. 
Le Magazine de PROANTIC
TRÉSORS Magazine
Rivista Artiquariato