Japanese
Showa Okimono Netsuke Goddess
Benten
Playing Shamisen
Signature: unsigned, Circa: Showa,
1912-26
H 1.25 in.(3cm), W 1.25 in.(3cm), D 1 in.(2.5cm)
Condition: excellent! This
Showa era ivory okimono is delightfully rendered. The countenance of the goddess
is both exuberant and contemplative. She gracefully holds the ornamental biwa,
wearing a sumptuous kimono, which is gentle embellished with textile ornamentation.
This wonderful figure was made with a natural himotoshi for wearing as a netsuke,
or as a okimono to display the beauty and charm of this inspiring deity.
Private Collection | | Benten
(Benzaiten) is the sole female among the Seven Lucky Gods (Shichifukujin). She
is the Japanese version of the Hindu deity Saraswati and thus is a radiant manifestation
of speech, eloquence, music, arts learning and good fortune, and her shrines are
usually near water. She is often depicted with a biwa, a short-necked fretted
lute and sometime portrayed riding on a water snake.
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