A very sensitive, animated and finely elegant depiction of a spotted deer (shika). The deer has its head turned back with a friendly face with black inlaid eyes and long curved antlers attached on the back. The leg composition on the underside is appealing. Good himotoshi on the underside.

The deer is considered a messenger of the gods (kami no tsukai) in Kasuga shrine in Nara Prefecture. It is also the only animal that can find the elusive reishi mushroom. The deer also lives in the paradise of endless life, a rocky island called Horaizan.

Category:

Netsuke

Subcategory:

-

Subject:

Animal

Material:

Ivory

Age/Country:

19th Century

Artist:

-

Provenance/Owner:

Galerie Zacke

Signed:

unsigned

Type:

Katabori

Height:

27mm mm

Width:

mm

Depth:

44mm mm

ID number: