Netsuke, ivory. Japan, 1st half 19th cent.
A motif designed with clever humour and fine parody showing the famous Ashinaga (liter. long leg) in meditation pose – in the absurd attempt to cross his extremely long legs. At the same time, the theme of the monkey tamer (sarumawashi) is depicted with a monkey next to him cleaning his ears. It tickles him and he laughs in pleasure; as his big belly and facial features hint that the artist was also portraying the lucky god Hotei. Long Leg is sitting on a square area with himotoshi and signature MIN-KOKU 民 谷. Minkoku was a student of Shugetsu I – this fine work confirms his mastership!
WIDTH 5,8 CM
From a German collection