Antique
Japanese Netsuke Male
Shishi
Playing Ball Netsuke
Signature: TomoIchi, Circa: early 20th century H 1.6 in.(4cm.), W 2 in.(5cm.),
D 1 in.(2.5cm.) Condition:
excellent! Superb
artistry is the best affirmative for a timeless collector's netsuke. Aside from
the well placed Tomoichi signature, one can observe this spirited shishi, lively
crouching forward with ball under grip; its powerful head turned and looking-up
with a snarl, five pointed bushy tails raged up and thrown across its back are
finely engraved with parallel hairlines. its thick paws are carved in defined
claws that seem to dig the surface on which it stands. The animal's fur is represented
in a low relief of small balls known as ukibori. Its eyes are double inlaid of
amber-colored tortoise shell and umimatsu for the dark pupils. Plus, a well placed
large himotoshi to hide the knot, and the crisp finishing in soft plains of rounded
edges to indicate an indisputable masterpiece from the hands of Tadami Uno; who
uses names as Yukimasa, Masatomo and Tomoichi. Private Collection
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