AN IVORY NETSUKE OF A SMOKING ASHINAGA BY MINKOKU
Ivory netsuke with various inlaysJapan, Tokyolate 19th centuryThis lively, humorous netsuke shows Ashinaga carved in a subtle manner, laughing and enjoying his pipe with an open book in front of him. One of his legs is bent and due to its length is making it difficult for him to reach his knee with his hand. Ashinaga is holding a tobacco pouch inlaid in tortoise shell with a coloured ivory ojime, ashtray netsuke and a drum with a mitsudomo-e (“triple comma”) on it is attached to his belt. Horn-set himotoshi and signed MINKOKU on the underside. This would be Genryosai Minkoku II or III.HEIGHT 3.8 CMCondition: Good, worn condition with a small age crack through the backProvenance: French private collection