Netsuke carved from bone are usually quite simple and low in quality, as the material was not much appreciated and often even considered ‘waste material’. It is extraordinarily rare to find netsuke of good quality made from bone, as the material is also very difficult to carve. The present netsuke depicts the legendary Japanese hero Hadesu straddling a tiger on his back and killing it with his sword, after stunning it with a punch in a head. The struggle is depicted masterfully, especially evident in the facial expressions of the two combatants – the tiger is screaming in fearful agony as Hadesu has a determined, but ruthless expression. The details are incredibly fine as well – the samurai armour including the ropes attached to it, the sharp rows of teeth of the tiger, as well as the fur coat. The porous texture of the bone is evident all over the piece and adds to the power and expression of the netsuke. Natural himotoshi; unsigned.

Category:

Netsuke

Subcategory:

-

Subject:

Mythological

Material:

Bone

Age/Country:

19th Century

Artist:

-

Provenance/Owner:

Galerie Zacke

Signed:

unsigned

Type:

Katabori

Height:

41mm mm

Width:

mm

Depth:

mm

ID number: