Absolute rarity!
Antique Japanese lacquered wooden bookends in form of 'minogame' turtles.
This legendary turtle is depicted in the legend of Urashima Tarō, a fisherman who saved a turtle and was taken to underwater palace of Ryūgū-jō. Minogame are symbols of longevity and they are pictured as turtles with long tail of seaweed and algae.
Bookends are dating from Meiji period, mid 19th C.
Condition: good, as seen on photos with lacquer loss mainly on the bases, some wear on the tops.
Height: 15cm
Length: 18.5cm
Depth: 15cm
(Books are not included)
