In
the old Japan, the gift of a ram netsuket was considered a gesture wishing the
recipient a good life. Ram is also the eighth animal in the Asian zodiac. People
born in the year of the Ram are attributed to be wise, generous, passionate, elegant
and artistic by nature.
This ulterly charming recumbent Ram with large eyes inlaided in dark horn,
densely incised stained hair work in contrast with pair of large horns. The netsuke
has a smaller and large himotoshi in the base. Incised on an oval reserve, on
the rear right thigh is a signature yet to be translated. The well polished planes
of soft round edges makes it a tactile and well carved netsuke perfectly tactile
for its purpose.
Year
of The Ram: 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003
