Netsuke, wood. Nagoya, Japan 1st half of 19th cent.
Exceptional miniature work from the Nagoya school, signed in tiny jukibori (a special technique) and therefore unclear whether Tadatoshi or Tadashige*. The man is sits on the floor resting with a heavy bale on his back, presumably holding rice. Each detail is precisely rendered – astounding in this tiny scale! Also the facial features of the man wearing gaiters and straw sandals are carved vividly. Small himotoshi through the bale, signature in a rectangular reserve.
HEIGHT 2,4 CM, LENGTH 3,1 CM
* Both belong to the greatest masters of the school. The signature perhaps tends more towards Tadatoshi. The jukibori signature technique was only applied by few netsuke carvers, since it is more complex than engraving,
From a Munich private collection