A SHIBAYAMA INLAID AND LACQUERED WOOD PANEL DEPICTING ANTHROPOMORPHIC FROGS Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912) The wood ground finely decorated in gold takamaki-e and hiramaki-e and neatly inlaid with mother-of-pearl, bone, some of which is stained green, and horn to depict two frogs by a stream amid blossoming flowers under the crescent moon partly obscured by thick clouds. One of the frogs is holding a chrysanthemum stem as if he was playing the flute, while the other approaches dragging another floral stem as if it was a club, about to strike the provocateur. SIZE 23 x 22.5 cm (the panel) and 36.4 x 35.7 cm (incl. frame) Condition: Good condition with minor wear, occasional light scratches, few losses to inlays. Provenance: French private collection. With an old gilt wood frame with velvet padding. The depiction of the frogs on the present panel is reminiscent of the Choju-jinbutsu-giga scrolls from the 12th and 13th centuries. This famous set of four emakimono belonging to Kozan-ji temple in Kyoto are also referred to as Scrolls of Frolicking Animals in English and feature many anthropomorphic frogs.