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Antique
Japanese Carved Netsuke
Father
and Son
Playing Daruma Doll
Netsuke
Signature: Ichimasa. Circa: 19th century
H
1.25in.(3cm.), W 2 in.(5cm.), D 1.5 in.(4cm.)
Condition: Excellent! This
joyous netsuke a father and son, merrily playing with a Daruma doll is possibly
celebrating the Daruma festival; the day when Japanese buys good luck Daruma dolls
and paint in one of the eyes. If their wish granted, they paint in the other as
a sign of gratitude. Slightly worn with an aged look. The style of this netsuke
is tentatively attributed to the 19th century. Not unlike many carvers of this
time, there is little information available on Ichimasa, whose signature is incised
on the base of this netsuke. The ivory is beautifully aged. It appears to come
from the tip of a walrus tusk, with a patina varying from a rich gold in the outer
layer to white in the inner core. which has worn gently over the years. |
