Rug lovers and those who follow Layout will surely be familiar with this particularly "strange" lion motif, with its angular shape. Shaggy standing hair that flows from a potato-like face. The angular body, the polka dot pattern that covers the feet and body that is reminiscent of high-tech sneakers, and the two round eyes that are set in profile...
I have a weakness for characters with good looks, like a panda-patterned dead bear I found in a second-hand clothing store, a stuffed cow for sale at a soft serve ice cream stand at a service area on the way down, or a zodiac ornament I came across in a souvenir shop... Whenever I come across something that really appeals to me at a place I'm stopping at, I ignore the minimalist advice in my mind that asks, "What are you going to do with this?" and end up making a random purchase...
For similar reasons, I just can't help but feel like I can't leave this blocky lion alone.
When I asked the buyer, he told me that it's an ancient custom passed down among the Bakhtiari, a nomadic tribe in Iran, and that they have a culture of erecting stone lion statues on top of graves. He showed me a picture, and it was a little different from what I imagined, different from the majestic lion statues that are enshrined in the entrances of Japanese department stores and apartment buildings, and how should I put it...it's very nice.
The primitive yet familiar shape got me excited, and I thought, "Maybe this is the origin of that blocky lion," and when I thought about it, it certainly seemed that way. The angular shape of the lion on the rug makes it look somewhat ornamental. What's more, the composition, which seems to combine various angles, and above all, the placement of the eyes, are, yes, exactly like Cubism! The coincidence (or far-fetched connection) of an expression created by someone I don't even know being connected to later "art" only deepens my attachment to this type of lion.
Well, this new lion has a lot of charm and angularity, but what's great about it is the color. The lion is painted in deep wine red against a gray heathered background. The eyes are the same gray as the background. The collar and hooves are bright blue. The border pattern is a deep moss green.
This playful piece, with its comical motif, luxurious colors, and the fine texture of the wool, will look great in a sophisticated adult's room. It inspires fantasies of mumbling "Oh dear" to this thing while sipping whiskey, just like an old city boy.
Please come and see us at our Nakameguro store.
On a completely different note, the staff told me that the Komainu statues at Morioka Tenmangu Shrine are also angular and very cute! I've included a link to their website.
(Text: Nakamoto, City Girl Apprentice, Special Skill: Illustration)
Gabbeh
No.99735
Size: 89×63cm
Price: ￥56,100