A FINE AND SMALL EBONY WOOD NETSUKE OF A TANUKI BY TOMIN
Ebony wood netsukeJapan, Kuwana, Ise-provincelate 18th century – early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)A fine and small model of Tanuki no hara tsuzumi (belly drumming raccoon dog) by the Tsu-school artist Tomin. The fur is finely incised, the rib cage and spine well pronounced, sharp fangs, upwards turned snout and jovial expression – he is visibly delighted with drumming on his belly. The tanuki possesses magical powers and can change forms, sometimes into buddhist monks; they are jovial, but also dangerous, as they have been known to suffocate hunters with their enormous scrotum. The act of drumming on the belly, according to legend, was used by tanuki to beguile travelers and hunters to lead them astray. However, it has also been said that tanuki would get together just for fun, drumming on their bellies under the moonlight. Typical himotoshi for the artist between one of the legs and signature on the underside TOMIN. This was a popular motif for Tsu-school netsuke with examples known from Minko, Kokei and Tomin.HEIGHT 3.2 CMCondition: Very good conditionProvenance: German private collectionAuction comparison: For a similar netsuke by Kokei see Bonhams, Netsuke from a European private collection, London, 8 May 2016, lot 56.