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A Japanese Wooden Netsuke of a Kappa on a Clam browse these categories for related items... All Items: Japanese: Netsuke: Wood: Pre 1930: item #738721 Please refer to our stock #ICHI 3819 when inquiring.
$425.00 |
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This is a wooden netsuke – probably boxwood - of a Kappa on top of a large clam. It has very detailed carving of the kappa’s hairy locks and turtle like shell – and inset black eyes. The large semi open clam is equally well carved. On the base is a two-character signature that translates as Gyokusho. We believe that this carver was born in the early 20th century. However, it is possible that it was made by an 18th –19th century carver by that name as the signature matches one in “The Signature Book of Japanese Netsuke” by George Lazarnick, Pub. 1976. The piece measures 1 ¼” high by 1 3/8” long by 1 ¼” wide and is in excellent condition with fine patina and no chips. Kappa "river-child"), alternately called Gatarō "river-boy" or Kawako ,are legendary creatures; a type of water sprite found in Japanese folklore. Kappa are mischievous troublemakers. Their pranks range from the relatively innocent, such as loudly passing gas or looking up women's kimonos. Kappa inhabit the ponds and rivers of Japan and have various features to aid them in this environment, such as webbed hands and feet. They are sometimes even said to smell like fish, and they can certainly swim like them. The expression kappa-no-kawa-nagare ("a kappa drowning in a river") conveys the idea that even experts make mistakes. Kappa are supernatural creatures which live both on land and in water. Kappa have a beak-like snout, and fins on their hands and feet. They also have a shell on their back, and a water-filled dish on their head. As long as the dish is full of water, kappa keep their supernatural powers. The most notable feature of the kappa, however, is this water-filled depression atop their heads. These cavities are surrounded by scraggly hair, and this type of bobbed hair style is named okappa-atama for the creatures. The kappa derive their incredible strength from these liquid-filled holes, and anyone confronted with one may exploit this weakness by simply getting the kappa to spill the water from its head. The kappa possesses a deep sense of etiquette, so one trusted method is to appeal to this, for a kappa cannot help but return a deep bow, even if it means losing its head-water in the process. Once depleted, the kappa is seriously weakened and may even die. Other tales say that this water allows kappa to move about on land, and once emptied, the creatures are immobilized. Stubborn children are encouraged to follow the custom of bowing on the grounds that it is a defense against kappa. |
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