A SUPERB NETSUKE OF AN ONI-KAWARA (DEMON FACED ROOF TILE) BY RYOKOSAI JUGYOKU II
Ivory netsukeJapan, Edo19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)The ivory is stained to great effect and stippled, especially on the underside, to simulate antler. Depicted is a roof tile with the face of a very expressive and demonic oni. Inlaid eyes, bared fangs, curly mane, bushy beard and horns. The well carved curls provide a clever transition to the surface of the roof tile which displays many cloud patterns. The signature, next to the himotoshi, on the reverse inlaid in an ivory tablet JUGYOKU with red lacquer seal Sho.LENGTH 4 CMCondition: Very good condition, minute crack to one inlaid eyeProvenance: Collection of Sam Felton with CITES permit no. 18US59513C/9. Purchased from Norman L. Sanfield on November 18th 1979.Literature: Compare to a very similar model by Jugyoku II in the Baur collection, Marie-Therese Coullery and Martin S. Newstead, Geneve, 1977, page 230, C 638.