An ivory netsuke of a recumbent horse, its head turned backwards and with a friendly face, the eyes inlaid in dark horn. The carver is Mitsuhide, assumed to be a pupil of the famous Mitsuharu of Kyoto, and quoted by Meinertzhagen as ‘one of the best animal carvers of his time’. His works are scarce, but of a very high artistic quality, and invariably made from ivory and signed in a circular reserve. He is probably best known for his idiosyncratic carvings of monkeys, however though rare, he carved other animals with a similar power and expression such as this horse. The horse’s fur is masterfully carved and finished, as well as the bushy mane and tail. The underside with perfectly carved hooves and feet, with the first two feet crossing in front of the horse’s body. Excellent irregular and hollowed out himotoshi near the signature in an oval reserve MITSUHIDE.

Category:

-

Subcategory:

-

Subject:

Animal

Material:

Ivory

Age/Country:

18th Century

Artist:

Mitsuhide

Provenance/Owner:

Galerie Zacke

Signed:

signed

Type:

Katabori

Height:

27mm mm

Width:

50mm mm

Depth:

mm

ID number: