Antique
Japanese Netsuke Tanuki
Transforming into Tea Kettle
Netsuke Signature:
Tomokazu, Unconfirmed. Attributed to early 1900s' H 2 in.(5cm.), W
2.5 in.(6.3cm.), D 1 in.(2.5cm.)
Condition: Umimatsu Inlays, oa. excellent
A pitted
iron tea kettle with a lid and rings, a badger’s head growing out of the front
of the kettle and its tail out of the back, representing the story of Bunbuku
chagama in which the badger was rescued from some cruel boys by a poor junk dealer.
In return for his kindness the badger offers a favor. The junk dealer asks the
badger to transform himself into a tea kettle, which he sells to a local temple.
A novice monk takes the kettle to the river and begins to scour it with sand,
at which the kettle cries out “It hurts!” When the kettle is put on to boil, the
badger resumes its real shape and scurries away. The story is said to date back
to the Oei era (1294-1428) and to have originated with a magical kettle belonging
to the temple Morinji in Kozuke Province, giving rise to many versions. This
example is perhaps a rendering of the moment in the story when the kettle has
been put on the fireand the badger is caught between loyalty and panic. His bulging
eyes are inlaid coral; the radiating lines of his whiskers and fur add to the
caricature-like portrayal. Incongruously, a money bag is tied around the bagder’s
neck, no doubt a feature in one of the versions of the story. |
Private Collection
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