Japan. Edo period. Late 19th c. Ivory. Powerful Sh?ki in a long, belted robe with a sort of breastplate made of tiger skin, holding a ken in his outward-turned right hand protruding from a wide, billowing sleeve. His sheath hangs diagonally across his back, while the Oni he is hunting crouches confidently on the back of his wide collar, leaning onto Sh?ki′s flat hat, thoughtfully scratching his short right horn. Sh?ki is wearing fur boots under his finely carved robe engraved with a cloud pattern with black details. Signed on a large, oval reserve: Yoshinaga (Yoshinaga Koyoken, mentioned in the Soken Kisho, according to MCI p. 988/9 active ca. 1740-80). H.8.8cm. Condition A.
Provenance: -Brockhaus Collection, no. 249, illustrated in full color plate 38, p. 282 in his book "Netsuke". -Ky?to and T?ky? 2010, Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of Friendship between Germany and Japan, catalogue p. 55.
Please note that objects made of ivory, rhinoceros horn and turtle shell, due to Cites regulations can only be sold within the European Community. At present the export in third countries is prohibited.