Japan. Meiji period. 19th c. Ivory with allround beautiful, glazed golden-yellow patina, the details finely engraved. The rarely portrayed Sennin with two Karako. To earn his living, he sold paintings that came to life in his hands, here implied by a cloud of smoke and lightning coming from the tips of his fingers. Height 6.8cm. Condition A/B. A few age cracks.
Provenance: -Collection Behrens, no. 786, ill. Joly, Henry: W.L. Behrens Collection, 1966, plate XVI. -Collection Karl M. Schwarz, ill. Netsuke Subjects, 1992, no. 67.
Literature: -Joly, Henry: Legend in Japanese Art, ill. p. 533.
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.