A LACQUER TWO-PART MANJU NETSUKE DEPICTING A CARP
Lacquered wood manju netsukeJapan19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)The front decorated with a koi (carp) in golden takamaki-e on a roironuri ground above ferns in golden hiramaki-e, the reverse decorated with more golden ferns. The koi is a symbol of persistence and companion to Kinko sennin who often rides on a giant, magical carp. The scales are lacquered particularly fine and the visible eye is inlaid.DIAMETER 3.6 CMConditon: One restored vertical crack through the manju; clue residue on the insideProvenance: French private collection