Antique
Japanese Netsuke Working
Woman
Washing Laundry
Signature: Unsigned, circa: 19th
Century
H
1.5 in.(4cm.), W 1.25 in.(3cm), D 0.75 in.(2cm)
Condition: very good An
early Tokyo school netsuke, carved from quality ivory, marked with striations,
cream-white to cream in color, well carved with engraving in the hair lines and
embroideries, sumi and traces of red pigment. Depicting a married woman looking
up from her washing tub in animated conversation, her open mouth revealing black
teeth. Very well carved, displaying the artist’s skill from the undulating hair
lines and rich gathering and draping of both hair and fabric, to the plump soles
of the feet. The robe is decorated with a design of maple leaves, a symbol for
the fiery beauty of autumn and the comforting ripeness of maturity. Remarkably,
the woman’s face is quite white in color, which may be a natural variation ingeniously
captured by the artist, or could be due to bleaching to achieve the desirable
white complexion. Natural himotoshi through the arms or feet.
|
Private Collection |