Though
that left foot of this netsuke has been damaged a long time ago, this design perfect
netsuke of a deformed Heretic, seated with scoop in hand, appeares to be ever
ready for another sake.
This
superb ivory netsuke is signed : Masayuki. The signature facsimile is judged to
be consistent with Kato Masayuki, the Asakusa School's famous carver who lived
in the Yotsuya, Tokyo around mid Edo era. Masayuki was known to have studied medicine
but later devoted his life to carving netsuke. Some critics believed that Kato
Masayuki was the student of Hosunsai Masayuki, others believed that they could
well be the same man.