A superb antique Japanese ivory manju style netsuke dating to the late Edo period. The piece is signed by an artist called "Itokusai". The front features daruma complete with earring and hairy chest looking out of his cave window. The reverse features a hossu or fly whisk, signature and another window. A manju netsuke such as this would have been attached to a tobacco or other pouch and tucked into an obi. The ivory has yellowed and aged gracefully over the years. A must for the collector of zen art. Dimensions; 4.5cm x 1.5cm.
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