A LARGE AND POWERFUL WOOD NETSUKE OF A COILED SNAKE WITH AN INLAID SLUG BY TOMOKAZU

A LARGE AND POWERFUL WOOD NETSUKE OF A COILED SNAKE WITH AN INLAID SLUG BY TOMOKAZU

Japan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

Naturalistically carved, the snake coiling into a figure eight, resting its head on its body and looking intently at a horn-inlaid slug – an allusion to the sansukumi motif. Crawling up the snake's body, finely textured with incised scales, the slug reaches its two dark-horn inlaid antennae over the top of the reptile. The himotoshi are naturally formed and the netsuke is signed to the base within a bone-inlaid oval reserve TOMOKAZU – It is clear the oval signature was added later, likely during the Meiji era and at the time the tail was restored, suggesting Tomokazu received this netsuke in a state of disrepair. Working within the traditional wabi-sabi aesthetic, the carver executed a skillful restoration to the tail and added the slug as a part of the repair. The goal of wabi-sabi is not to seek perfection, but to create uniqueness through working within the imperfect.

LENGTH 5.5 cm

Condition: Good condition with minor typical wear. The tail has been restored and the slug has been added by Tomokazu.

Auction comparison:
Compare a related wood netsuke of a coiled snake, at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 29 October 2021, Vienna, lot 39 (sold for EUR 2,781).