AN EARLY IVORY NETSUKE OF TADAMORI CATCHING THE OIL THIEF

AN EARLY IVORY NETSUKE OF TADAMORI CATCHING THE OIL THIEF
Unsigned
Japan, mid-18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

The ivory of a very good lustrous color, smoothly polished and worn through generations of handling, a deep honey patina to the back. Depicted is a dramatic study of Taira no Tadamori capturing the oil thief Abura Bozu, the former with a fierce demeanor while the latter shrieks in surprise while holding the telltale ewer filled with oil in his right hand. The oil thief wears a tattered parasol on his head, which explains why Tadamori thought he was an evil demon, instead it was just a poor old soul, stealing a tiny bit of oil from the many lamps in the forest near the Yasaka no Yashiro temple. Very good, functional chimney himotoshi through the back and underside.

HEIGHT 5.1 cm

Condition: Good, worn condition with age cracks and old worn-down chips.
Provenance: Ex collection Jacques H. Carré, formerly in the collection Pontigbaud, sold at Drouot Paris, 13 June 1972, lot 376.