A LARGE LACQUERED WOOD ZEN MONKA LARGE LACQUERED WOOD ZEN MONKJapan, Edo period, 16th – 17th century. Finely carved paulownia wood statue with original lacquer painting and gilding. Expressive and rare portrayal of a Zen priest in ornate robe holding a sutra container under his right arm.HEIGHT 94 cmWEIGHT 6.6 kilograms Provenance: From a Swiss private collection. Acquired 1986 from Eskenazi Gallery in Milan, Italy.Condition: Some natural age cracks, partially with old wax fill. The lacquer and gilding with significant wear, but in absolutely original preservation. Few small touchups only to the black sutra container. Generally, in supreme and – most important – original and unrestored preservation. The wood and the lacquer have also acquired a fine natural patina and the distinctive grain of the paulownia wood is well visible.The monk is captured in a moment of concentrated chanting with open mouth and arched brows. If one has ever witnessed chanting Japanese monks, for example on New Year’s Day, it becomes immediately clear how close this portrayal comes to reality. The backside bears a donor inscription, which is only partially legible: Itamiya Jinemon … Nishiyokobori Shichirôemon chô … Toritsugi Nagashô ya Gihei. Modern base. (2)Compare with a related lacquered wood monk portrayal of the same period at Bonham’s New York, in ‘Fine Japanese and Korean Art’, March 15th, 2017, lot 6151.