Antique Japanese Carved Netsuke
Skull
Pill Box
Signature: unsigned. Circa: 18th Century
h. 1.4 in.(3.5cm), w. 1.4 in.(3.5cm), d. 1.2 in.(3cm)
Condition: age cracks, o.a. fair!

Sold to Private Collection

Death is perhaps the deepest alchemy. This skull netsuke has a playful surrealistic quality. The eye sockets are asymmetrical, cavernous and of two different sizes. The cavity where the nose would lie is almost birdlike. The teeth are defined but irregular, suggesting a whimsical ruffian's dental hygiene. The shape of the skull suggests a warrior's helmet. With two plugs both on the top and bottom of the skull that at one time would have twisted out so that the interior of the skull could serve as a pill container. In Japan, symbolically, the skull was considered a good luck charm for gamblers and ruffians, those who played on the edges of fortune and society. Two himotoshi are indicated through a hole in the bottom and two in the teeth.

We accept all major credit cards via PayPal

No Packaging and Handling Fee
FREE SHIPPING IN THE U.S. FOR SELECTED ITEM

Authenticity Guaranteed
BuddhaMuseum.Com is specializing in temple and family worshipped Buddhist arts. We guarantee all artifacts to be genuine as described. It is our policy never to deliberately list fakes as genuine. All contemporary Buddhist art listed will always stated as such.

14 days Unconditional Money-back Guaranteed
Certificate of Authenticity upon request. Items that are significantly deviating from the information provided by us regarding culture and dating, may be returned for a prompt refund. Refund of the net sale price, excluding freight and insurance. Buyer to pay the return shipping cost.