EISHI: A RARE STAG ANTLER KISERUZUTSU OF RAKANS By Eishi, signed Eishi Japan, second half of 19th century Depicting the Rakan Handaka Sonja surrounded by a halo and lifting his alms bowl aloft a Buddhist deity appearing from the mist. Handaka Sonja wearing a hooded robe has an expressively carved face and his dragon staff is visible on his back. The insert shows an image of Rakan Kanaka Baridaja Sonja (one of the eighteen arhats) holding his alms bowl aloft. The reverse decorated with an image of a pine tree, naturally worked with the porous structure of the antler, which extends to the front side and forms the looped cord attachment. Signed in the back EISHI 榮之. HEIGHT 22.8 cm Condition: Excellent condition. Provenance: Ancient collection Charles Cartier-Bresson (1853-1921), collection no. 1003. Charles Cartier-Bresson was a textile industrialist and art collector specializing particularly in works from Japan. He is the great uncle of famous photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson. Additional collection no. ‘355’. Auction comparison: For some of the imagery influencing this design see a set of scrolls by Kawanabe Kyosai sold by Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, 12 November 2015, London, lot 231.