A SMALL IVORY NETSUKE OF CHOKARO SENNIN WITH GIANT HYOTAN
Ivory netsukeJapanlate 19th century, Meiji period (1868-1912)Chokaro is depicted here just like a Chinese sage. In China he is known as Zhang Guolao and is one of the Eight Immortals. He has a full beard, is wearing a Chinese garment and a Taoist’s cap on his head. He is holding a giant hyotan (bottle gourd), containing his mule, which he can call at any time to travel the world, in front of him. A very fine work with beautiful details, like the garment decorations, with small himotoshi on the reverse.HEIGHT 3.9 CMCondition: Good condition. Two age cracks on the hyotan and a miniscule chip on the sleeve.Provenance: French private collection