Unsigned Japan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Published: Barry Davies Oriental Art, Netsuke and Inro from European Collections (London, 2002), no. 100, & Galerie Gemini & Ichimonji Art (Munich, 2004), no. 199.
An ivory netsuke of a sarumawashi (monkey trainer) standing and laughing with large glaring eyes inlaid in black lustrous horn. He is wearing a cap with an incised peach branch, has a food basket tied to his obi in front of him and is holding a taming stick in one hand and the monkey’s paw in the other. The monkey is seated on his shoulder. Himotoshi through the back.
HEIGHT 8.8 cm
Condition: Good, worn condition with expected age cracks and good patina. A section of the taming stick with an old and worndown loss. Provenance: Barry Davies, then Galerie Gemini & Ichimonji art, then Luxembourg private collection.