A wood netsuke of Hadesu slaying a tiger

By Tsuguhisa, Edo period (1615-1868), 19th century

By Tsuguhisa, Edo period (1615-1868), 19th century
The legendary warrior standing in a belligerent pose with one hand pinning down a strugglng tiger to the ground and the other raised about to strike the animal's head; signed on the tiger's belly in an oval reserve Tsuguhisa. 3.9cm (1½in) high.

For two similar examples (one signed Gyokurintei), see Henri L. Joly, Behrens Collection, vol. 1, London, Glendining and Co., 1913, pl.LXI, nos.4782 and 4789. The example signed Gyokurintei (Behrens no.4789) is also illustrated by Neil K. Davey, Netsuke: A Comprehensive Study Based on the M. T. Hindson Collection, London, Faber & Faber and Sotheby Parke Bernet Publications, 1974, p.305, no.926.