Oiran in Ivory

I had earlier posted about the idealized image, and tragic reality, of the Japanese oiran. This superbly sculpted ivory cigarette holder features two images of such a grand courtesan. On one side she is shown in her full name regalia, with her elaborately embroidered obi tied in the front and her hair intricately adorned with ornaments.

The extraordinary quality of the carving, from the fine crosshatching in the background to the delicate details of her dress, gives the image depth and dimension. 

On the other side she is shown in dishabille, clad only in a simply open robe, although her hair is still arrayed in an elaborate style. 

The piece, just 6 inches long, is signed. Before the introduction of filtered cigarettes, a cigarette holder mellowed the inhaled smoke and helped prevent the inhalation of small flakes of tobacco. This beautiful example could have been carved for the European trade, but it may also have been created for the Japanese market. Tobacco was introduced in Japan by European traders in the late 1500s, although it was smoked using a long pipe called a kiseru. However, cigarettes were produced in Japan by the late 1800s and quickly became the popular way to consume tobacco.