A pointedly humorous and very large netsuke sculpture showing a forcefully laughing, bearded Dutchman. The Dutchman’s incredibly expressive face is what makes this netsuke stand out, his eyes are closed, and his mouth is wide open with visible teeth, as he lets out a hearty laugh which one can almost hear. His hairstyle is convoluted in a parodying manner, as are his expressive beard, the seam of his coat and his shoes. The buttons of his garment are inset with dark-brown horn. The Dutchman is carrying a lantern on his back, with two equally squiggled decorative elements attached. Small himotoshi in the back. Dutchmen were only known to netsuke artists from the woodblock prints from Nagasaki and were the only Europeans allowed in Japan, after the Portuguese were expelled in 1638.

Category:

Netsuke

Subcategory:

-

Subject:

Figural

Material:

Ivory

Age/Country:

18th Century

Artist:

-

Provenance/Owner:

Galerie Zacke

Signed:

unsigned

Type:

Tall figural

Height:

100mm mm

Width:

mm

Depth:

mm

ID number: