Netsuke, ivory. Japan, around 1800 until early 19th cent.
Very good old work exemplifying best integral roundness, depicting the beloved, humorous motif of the god of fortune sitting in his own sack. The baldheaded Hotei laughs and jovially holds one end of the bag in his mouth. The other sack end forms an arch tied together over Hotei′s head. Well-worn age patina, himotoshi through back and bottom.
WIDTH 3,9 CM
From an old German collection