By Minjo, signed Minjo Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)
Finely carved and with well-executed Shibayama-style inlays, the lucky god standing over a dismayed oni with eyes inlaid in mother-of-pearl trying to flee but stuck between his legs, wearing a long robe with a mon inlaid in tortoiseshell, mother-of-pearl, and green-stained ivory, as well as finely incised patterns, holding a double-gourd in one hand and a sake cup with two inlaid drops of sake in mother-of-pearl in the other, a tobacco pouch, kizeruzutsu, and coral-inlaid netsuke on the ground in front of him. Signed MINJO within a red-lacquered circular reserve on the underside of the pouch, next to an inscription reading Hino yojin (“watch out for fire”).
HEIGHT 10.8 cm
Condition: Small old repair to one of Ebisu’s toes, otherwise in very good condition with only few minor traces of wear. Provenance: British collection.
Auction comparison: Compare with an okimono by the same artist, sold by Lempertz, The Kolodotschko Collection of Netsuke I, 14 June 2014, Cologne, lot 293 (sold for 2,684 EUR).