Antique Japanese Wood Okimono
Ashinaga Tenaga
Joint Effort Catching Fish
Origin: Japan, Circa: Edo, 19th century
H 9.5 in.(24cm) W 2.25 in.(5.7cm) D 1.75 in.(4cm)
Measurement not including wood pedestal
Hairline crack on foot, overall in good condition!

Ashinaga and Tenaga are famous friends in Japanese folklore, one with short arms and long legs, the other with short legs and long arms, who, by joining together, never lacked for sustenance. This rare representation of the duo is carved with exceptional skill in hardwood, richly stained in chestnut red, polished to a silken gloss surface with an aged mellow patina,with reverent treatment of gold makies that accentuated the tobacco pouch and loincloths. The figures are joyous and high spirited, which conveys a celebration of achieving success in teamwork. All in all, this is a lively carving of great charm. Evidently it may had been used as a sashi netsuke at some point. On close observation, there appeared to be a hardly visible crack line on Ashinaga's feet. Nevertheless the thin hairline is in no way diminished the integrity of this gorgeous okimono.

Estimate: $1300-1500
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text/call: 510-556-3555