An unusual netsuke in the form of a square two-part manju style netsuke consisting of a bronze bowl and a rectangular ivory plate with a himotoshi loop in the back. The ivory plate depicts the legend from Japanese folklore of the Bunbuku Chagama. In the legend a poor man sets a tanuki free, which in return transforms into a kettle, so that the man can perform with it on the street and become wealthy. Finely carved in shishiabori (sunken relief), the man is visibly delighted holding the tanuki tea kettle. Signature HIROMITSU in the front.

Category:

Netsuke

Subcategory:

-

Subject:

Mythological

Material:

Ivory Mixed media

Age/Country:

19th Century

Artist:

Hiromitsu

Provenance/Owner:

Galerie Zacke

Signed:

signed

Type:

Manju

Height:

40mm mm

Width:

mm

Depth:

mm

ID number: