Lot 9. A set of the Four Guardian Kings, Nanbokucho period, 14th century. Estimate $15,000 - $20,000. Price Realized $50,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2016.

 The fierce guardian figures modeled in cypress wood in the joined-wood technique (yosegi), elaborately painted with polychrome pigments and gold, in Chinese-style robes and armor standing in a frontal pose on top of a defeated demon or demons, holding scroll, brush, spear, stupa or Vajras, the inlaid crystal eyes painted with black pupils ringed in gold, applied with metal fittings; 30 in. (76.2 cm.) high each approx including base

Provenance: Baron Fujita Denzaburo (1841-1912), Osaka 
Fujita Family, Osaka

Literature: Osaka Bijutsu Club, Fujita danshakuke zohin nyusatsu mokuroku (Auction catalogue of the collection of the Baron Fujita family) (Osaka: Osaka Bijutsu club, 1929), no. 334.

Exhibited: Fujita family principal residence, "Fujita danshakuke uritate tenran" (Auction preview of the collection of the Baron Fujita family), 1929.5.8-9

Detail. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2016.

 Note: The Four Guardian Kings are mighty protectors of the Buddhist law. Clad in armor, they stand at the four corners of a Buddhist altar, protecting the principal image. Each represents one of the four cardinal directions. The aggressive stance and grimacing demeanor are standard for these guardians, whose mission is to ward off evil.

The Four Guardian Kings, in similar style, are illustrated in Miho Museum, ed., Omi: Spiritual Home of Kami and Hotoke, exh. cat (Shiga: Miho Museum, 2011), pp. 220-21.

Christie's. AN INQUIRING MIND: AMERICAN COLLECTING OF JAPANESE AND KOREAN ART, 15 April 2016, New York, Rockefeller Plaza