A very unusual and compact composition of a large blind male monkey holding a peach, one of the eyes inlaid in ivory and the other in horn. A smaller male monkey, aware of the other monkey’s disadvantage, is kneeling below him and trying to steal the peach he is holding. The expression of the larger monkey is brilliantly captured as he realizes the attempted robbery and grabs the other monkey by the fur at the back, the differently inlaid eyes give him a crazed look. The smaller monkey’s eyes are inlaid in translucent horn and he has a mischievous expression. Very good treatment of the fur and the underside equally well carved with natural himotoshi and signature in a polished reserve MASACHIKA. The artist carved invariably monkeys and according to the scholar F. M. Jonas, Masachika was the adopted son and successor of Kaigyokusai Masatsugu and the father of Kaigyokudo Masateru.

Category:

Netsuke

Subcategory:

-

Subject:

Animal

Material:

Wood

Age/Country:

19th Century

Artist:

Masachika

Provenance/Owner:

Galerie Zacke

Signed:

signed

Type:

Katabori

Height:

38mm mm

Width:

45mm mm

Depth:

mm

ID number: