Fuki Saburo in "Shakkyo-no Botan" (given to my sister):

Another Ukiyo-e print rendered in marquetry.  The background is cherry with a walnut border, the kimono is curly maple.  The hair is actually a dark red wood (Padouk).
Overall dimesions: 12" by 13" (not including frame)

The noh play Shakkyo(stone bridge) is a dance-drama of a miraculous tale about mystic lions that appeared at a natural stone bridge in Mount Tendai during the Sung dynasty, China.  Transformed into kabuki, the play gave birth to a series of dances called "Shakkyo-mono" (Shakkyo style), and was also adopted in various dramas.  This picture shows Ichikawa Uzaemon XIII (later renamed Kikugoro V) in the role Fuki Saburo, who dances as "a lion of Shakkyo."  The lion is called the king of beasts; the peony, the queen of flowers.  Consequently, the lion and the peony have been frequently linked since olden times.  In the noh play Shakkyo,the lion frisks around peonies; while in the "Shakkyo-mono," a lion and peonies are effectively used on the stage settings, hand props, or costumes.  Given to my Sister for Christmas of 2007.