Another fine and sensitively crafted model by the Osaka artist. The Bijin is seated half-kneeling and holding a long pipe between both hands. She has sensitive facial features and her hair is tied in a typical Bijin manner. Her robes are elaborate, incised with a scarce pattern and beautifully lacquered in an unusual tone of pinkish amber. In Collector’s Netsuke (1971, p. 54), Raymond Bushell discusses Kohosai’s remarkable skill at manipulating lacquer to achieve convincing colors, textures and patinas on the surface of his netsuke, which is evident in this piece. The underside with a garment fold forming the himotoshi, under which her genitals can be seen. The signature KOHOSAI is found under her knee.

Category:

Netsuke

Subcategory:

-

Subject:

Figural Daily Life Shunga

Material:

Ivory

Age/Country:

19th Century

Artist:

Kohosai

Provenance/Owner:

Galerie Zacke

Signed:

signed

Type:

Katabori

Height:

45mm mm

Width:

mm mm

Depth:

mm mm

ID number: