A very compact and incredibly charming netsuke of the twelve zodiac animals also known as Junishi. The animals are arranged neatly in a circle and are climbing on top of each other. The monkey (saru) is riding on top of the horse (uma), a popular netsuke motif on its own and an allusion to the Chinese principle of climbing the bureaucratic ladder. The tiger (tora) is looking upwards with a red-tinted mouth, as well as the dragon (tatsu) which winds across the entire composition with a little rat (nezumi) climbing upon it – the dragon’s expression is crafted vividly, and the mouth is also tinted red. Next is the boar (inoshishi) with a large rabbit (usagi) on its head, and another one next to it. The rooster (tori) with hen are found on top of the ox (ushi), with a little dog (inu) next to it and above the dog a sensitively crafted goat (hitsuji) with another little rat on its head. Finally, the last animal, the snake (hebi), is carved so delicately that one can almost miss it. The underside with a cluster of hooves and legs with the kao of Ono Ryomin on a little tablet. Ono Ryomin was regarded as one of the most brilliant carvers of netsuke in the latter half of the 19th century.

Category:

-

Subcategory:

-

Subject:

Animal

Material:

Ivory

Age/Country:

19th Century

Artist:

Ono Ryomin

Provenance/Owner:

Galerie Zacke, Kolodotschko collection

Signed:

signed

Type:

Katabori

Height:

31mm mm

Width:

mm

Depth:

mm

ID number: