Okimono or boxwood sculpture integrating the natural shape and texture of a tormented section of a boxwood branch, used to reveal the form of a corvid. This type of scholar’s object, which uses natural marvels as a medium for sculpture, is common in China, the birthplace of calligraphy. However, a similar aesthetic can be found in many Sinicized countries, whether it involves Japanese okimono made of wood or ivory, or Chinese dream stones.
The function of this object is difficult to determine with certainty. Bronze okimono are often used as paperweights to hold scrolls in place, but this particular piece seems to have a lot more to do with contemplation of natural beauty than practical use.
In Japan, the crow is an allegory of the sun. It has always been a respected animal throughout the archipelago, although more recently it has come to be seen as a nuisance in some urban areas. In Japanese mythology, the Yatagarasu is a divine, three-legged crow sent by the gods to assist humans. Its three legs represent the sky, the earth, and mankind. This legendary bird holds a central place in Japanese mythology; indeed, it was a three-legged crow that acted as a messenger for the goddess Amaterasu in Shinto cosmogony. It is said to have guided Emperor Jinmu to Yamato, thus laying the foundations of Shinto mythology.

Japan, Edo period (1603–1868)
Height: 11 cm – Length: 12 cm – Width: 9 cm