Three Early Ivory Netsuke

EDO PERIOD (17TH AND 18TH CENTURY)

Details

Three Early Ivory Netsuke
Edo Period (17th and 18th Century)
All carved in marubori, the first of Handaka Sonja seated on a rock holding a staff to which two gourds are tied, a vine entwining his staff and a tiger seated beside him; the second depicting Shoki, the demon queller, crouching on top of a rock, a drawn sword in his hand, stalking a terrified oni, who cowers in a cave beneath him, the cave entrance partly obscured by a pine; and another of Kanzan standing holding the cord at one end of a handscroll which he expounds to Gama Sennin, seated beside him holding the other end, a toad at his knee
1.5/8in. (4.3cm.), .7/8in. (2.3cm.) and ½in. (4cm.) high respectively (3)

Lot Essay

Kanzan normally favours Jittoku with his discourse on the contents of his scroll, but in this instance the leaves on the upper chest and the toad at his knee, identify the second personage as Gama Sennin. The reason for the unusual association of the two figures in this instance is not apparent.

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