A FINE AND RARE NETSUKE OF SHOKI WITH BAG OF ONI BY RYUSAI
Ivory netsukeJapan19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)An extraordinarily fine depiction of the demon queller Shoki, seated with a grim expression. Tied to his back is a sack filled to the brim with oni. Three oni are peeking out all with differently grimacing expressions. Judging by Shoki’s expression he knows that presumably thousands of oni are about to make the great escape, as the cracks through the sack are already visible. The stained ivory is superbly finished. Astonishing detail to his flowing beard and the folds of his Chinese garments and the sack. One smaller and one larger himotoshi inlaid with green-stained horn; behind the signature in sosho in a square reserve RYUSAI.Shoki, originating from China during the Tang dynasty and known there as Zhong Kui, was a student who committed suicide in front of the palace because his rightful title of Zhuangyuan (highest achievement in academics) was stripped away from him from the emperor due to this disfigured and ugly appearance. The king of hell tasked him with hunting and capturing all demons – granting him the title of king of ghosts. He then appeared in the dream of the sick emperor Xuanzong and extinguished the ghost who had been causing his illness. Shoki reappeared in Japan around the 12th century and was painted by many great artists throughout the centuries and was a very popular theme for netsuke art, where he is often depicted as a perpetually unsuccessful demon hunter.HEIGHT c. 3.5 CMCondition: Excellent condition, very faint age crack by the beardProvenance: Collection of Sam Felton with CITES permit no. 18US59513C/9Literature: Lazarnick writes on Ryusai: “Carved, ivory, wood, horn and bamboo at one time studied under Hosai (…) had a graceful and distinctive style”.