Japanese wood carving of a Shinto priest signed Choshun Shōwa period

Japanese wood carving of a Shinto priest (kannushi 神主) finely carved wearing eboshi a traditional formal headwear, sweeping fallen leaves with a broom and his cheeks puffed out signed in carved characters Choshun saku 朝春作 (made by Choshun), Shōwa period 1930.

The tomobako wood storage box bearing inscription: Kami no niwa no ochiba 神苑の落葉 (fallen leaves at a Shinto shrine garden) and Showa gonen shinshun, Choshun saku, with a seal Choshun 昭和五年新春, 朝春作, with seal 朝春 (made by Choshun, in the early spring of Showa 5 (1930).

The artist Matsuo Choshun (1885-1930) was born in Fukuoka prefecture and studied wood carving under Yamazaki Choun (1867-1954). He was awarded a special prize (tokusen) at the Teiten exhibition in 1925.

In 1929 he was appointed judge at the Teikoku Bijutsu-in (Imperial Art Academy). 

All our pieces come with a BADA Certificate of Provenance (The British Antiques Dealer's Association) and are inclusive of free worldwide shipping & insurance.