MONKEY TRAPPING AN OCTOPUS

This netsuke references a legend in which the octopus-physician to Ryujin, the Dragon King of the Sea, prescribes a monkey’s liver to heal the King’s daughter. The octopus was sent to overpower a monkey, however in this netsuke the monkey has outwitted the octopus (tako) and trapped him under a mortar. The octopus is visibly annoyed by this, as the monkey pulls on one of his tentacles. The head of the tako is very well-crafted with large inlaid eyes. The monkey, with fine fur and inlaid eyes is carved in the characteristic style of the artist, whose signature is found behind the monkey on the mortar, MASATAMI.

Category:
-
Subcategory:
-
Subject:
Animal
Material:
Ivory
Age/Country:
19th Century
Artist:
Masatami
Provenance/Owner:
Galerie Zacke
Signed:
signed
Type:
Katabori
Height:
25mm mm
Width:
mm
Depth:
mm
ID number:

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