Kichizô INAGAKI known as Yoshio (1876-1951) An inkwell sculpture of a sparrow on a lacquer base. Kichizô Inagaki, son of a great sculptor and master lacquerer, worked with his father, a palace carpenter, and won third prize in the master lacquerer competition in May 1899, confirming his talent and skills in the traditional arts. After graduating in July 1904 from the Tokyo School of Fine Arts, renowned for its conservatism, he moved to Hong Kong until 1906, where he worked for an antique dealer, mounting sculptures on wooden pedestals. He then set off to discover Europe, settling in Paris. Speaking little French, he survived by selling small sculptures of animals, fish or shells, such as this one, on the sidewalk, and quickly made a name for himself. Then came the great career we know him for, with prestigious collaborations such as with Rodin or Eileen Gray, and work with the greatest antique dealers from Paul Guillaume to Joseph Brummer, who nicknamed him "the Japanese", Charles Ratton, or Jean Roudillon, to whom he gave this splendid sparrow sculpture, characteristic of an ancient tradition of sculpture on burnt and brushed wood (Shou Sugi Ban) and the art of lacquer. A gesture he seems to have made to his best customers and friends. Wood and lacquer, signed with his stamp applied to the inside of the bird sculpture, also in lacquer (see photo on previous page). H. 6.6 cm and W. 9.8 cm See p. 96 to 105 for an article about Kichizô Inagaki by C.W. Hourdé in: Tribal Art n° 66 Winter 2012. Provenance : Jean Roudillon Collection