JAPANESE CAST BRONZE FUMI-E VIRGIN MARY “OUTLAW CHRISTIAN” ICON

Japanese Bronze Christian Icon (Fumi-e)

Edo period, 18th century

Bronze oval relief depicting the Virgin Mary and Christ child, cast in low relief and deeply set into a rectangular wooden block. The bronze surface shows extensive wear, smoothing, and oxidation consistent with repeated handling and use. A bent iron nail at the top intended for suspending the icon appears to be a later addition.

The wooden block is consistent with the age of the piece and has an unusual grain pattern, with abrasions, dents, and wear from long use. The depth at which the bronze medallion is embedded, together with the character of the wood, suggests the block may have been removed together from a the doorstep of a home.

Approximate dimensions:

Bronze medallion: 4.25 × 3 in. (approx. 10.8 × 7.6 cm)

Wood block: 7.75 × 5 in., 1.0 in. thick (approx. 19.7 × 12.7 cm, 2.5 cm thick)

Fumi-e (“step-on pictures”) were used by the Tokugawa authorities during the Edo period to identify covert Christians following the prohibition of Christianity. From the mid-17th century onward, bronze examples such as this were cast—primarily in Nagasaki—and distributed to regional officials for use in official inspections.

Suspected individuals were required by the authorities to step on these images to “prove” their rejection of Christianity. Hesitation or refusal was taken as evidence that the individual practiced the banned faith.

The degree of surface wear visible on this example is characteristic of authentic fumi-e and reflects its function as an object that was stepped on and typically displayed outdoors.

Comparable Edo period bronze fumi-e have sold at major international auction houses. Examples sold at Christie’s in 2010 and 2011 realized prices of approximately USD 10,000 and USD 27,500 respectively, while another sold at Bonhams in 2013 for USD 16,250.