Japan. Edo period. 1st half of the 19th c. Ivory, very finely and detailed carving and engraving, lightly colored. Beautiful golden-yellow patina. Men-zukushi, composed by seven N?- and Ky?gen-masks: Hannya, Oni, Okame, Chujo, Okina, Hyottoko, and Buaku. Height 1.8cm, width 3.8cm. Signed: Tadachika, cf. LA p. 1058. Condition A/B. Crack and tiny loss on the mask of Chujo.
Provenance: -Collection Beasley. -Collection Karl M. Schwarz, ill. Netsuke Subjects, 1992, no. 320.
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.