A LARGE LACQUERED WOOD NETSUKE OF SAMBASO PROPS
Lacquer and wood netsukeJapan19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)A gold lacquered wood netsuke depicting a ‘bell tree’ and a fan which are used for the Sambaso dance. This dance originates from the Noh play Okina and involves the old man (Okina) performing a lively and humorous dance with a fan and hand bells. The entire netsuke is covered in gold lacquer, with details in hiramaki-e and the fan is decorated with clouds of fine nashiji. The underside is fitted with a silver mount with a ring attached which functions as the himotoshi. Likely this was part of the sagemono of a Noh actor and was used often as it is characteristically rubbed on the high points.LENGTH 5.5 CMCondition: Loss to lacquer in some areas consistent with age and useProvenance: French private collection