This
fine netsuke with rotating faces depicts an actor staging in a Noh play. The figure
is holding a huge halberd in his left, naturally posed leaning slightly forward
to his right, wearing a deeply carved wig of long black hair, and a terrifying
demon mask with bulging eyes and fangs.
The
netsuke is robust and radiates with energy. Despite the theme, this figure is
amusingly charming. I've always regarded it as a favorite in my collection. The
large triangular shaped design with a slight curl makes it a joy to play with
in the hand. The netsuke is carved from a quality ivory and is in excellent condition,
which testifies that the netsuke is well designed for its purpose. Presumably,
it must had been treasured by its former owner(s).
The
signature on the base of the carving verifies the name Masatsugu. According to
the book "NETSUKE, A Comprehensive Study.." by Neil K. Davey, besides the famed
Kaigyokusai Masatsugu who signed his name simply as Masatsugu before the age of
twenty, there were at least five other 18-19th century netsuke carvers who shared
the name Masatsugu. Whereas in this case, we attribute this signature to the Masatsugu
of Hidemasa school in the mid 19th century.
Private Collection
