These menuki are crafted in dark metal and depict a horse emerging from a gourd, a motif associated with Zhang Guo Lao (Chōkarō), one of the Eight Immortals of Daoist tradition. Each piece shows a dynamically posed horse with flowing mane and tail, bursting forth from a rounded gourd, surrounded by swirling, rope-like elements that enhance the sense of movement.
The theme refers to the legend in which Zhang Guo Lao could make his magical mule appear from a small gourd, allowing him to travel a thousand miles in a single day. The menuki capture this miraculous moment, blending lively motion with elegant openwork carving characteristic of high-quality Gotō-school workmanship from the Momoyama period.
The sculptural detail—especially in the horse’s expressive head, muscular body, and the textured twists around it—reflects both technical refinement and the symbolic energy of the immortal’s magical steed.
Dimension
L 46,5 mm x 14,5 mm x 5,8 mm , 5,0 g
R 46,7mm x 14,9 mm x 5,9 mm , 5,9 g
