This
beautifully executed netsuke depicts a samurai riding backwards on a raging boar,
holding what appeares to be a snake, which is tightly wrapped around the boar's
hind leg. The subject of this netsuke actually depicts the legend of Todatsune
(Nitta no Shiro), who was a retainer of the first shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo
during the 12th century. Unfortunately, the boar killed was actually a Shinto
Deity, thus Tadatsune fell under a curse, and was eventually banished by the shogun
only a few years later.
The
figures of this netsuke are carved fully in depth, executed with motion and force.
The netsuke is unsigned. On the basis of a virtually identical piece recorded
by Neil K Davey in Behrens Collection #3593, it can be tentatively attributed
to the hand of Yamaguchi Okatomo, or one of his Kyoto school pupils during the
late 18th to early 19th century period. The netsuke is slightly worn and has a
rich honey patina with an even shine. There are no crack lines and the netsuke
is in mint condition.