18th Century Japanese Wood Tall Netsuke: Gama Sennin
browse these categories for related items...
Directory: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Netsuke and Related: Pre 1800: Item # 1448972
Directory: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Netsuke and Related: Pre 1800: Item # 1448972
Please refer to our stock # 272 when inquiring.
$1,450.00
18th Century Japanese Wood Tall Netsuke: Gama Sennin
18th Century, excellently hand-carved Boxwood Netsuke depicting a standing Gama, wearing the typical mugwort cape with wide sleeves, and a rope tied at his waist, holding a staff with his right hand, and carrying a three-legged toad (that possesses magical powers) on top of his left shoulder. Very interesting himotoshi that starts in the back of the Sennin and exits on the left side of his body (see photo #8). Very rich, dark, lustrous patina. Unsigned.
Netsuke measures 1.22 inches (3.1cm) wide, and 2.86 inches (9.0cm) tall. This is a very fine example of a tall* netsuke. It is in excellent preserved condition, as you may be able to see in the posted photos.
* Oversized or tall netsuke are extremely rare. According to Yakari Yoshida, in a 1999 International Netsuke Society Journal article, this type of netsuke make up approximately only one percent or less of all netsuke held at major collections. According to the author, most of these netsuke were made in the 18th and early 19th centuries, and among the subjects represented by these tall miniature sculptures are Sennin and foreigners, such as the theme of the carving listed here.
