AN IVORY KAGAMIBUTA NETSUKE DEPICTING PILGRIMS CLIMBING THE GREAT BUDDHA OF NARA

AN IVORY KAGAMIBUTA NETSUKE DEPICTING PILGRIMS CLIMBING THE GREAT BUDDHA OF NARA

Unsigned
Japan, late 19th century

The shibuichi plate cast in relief with gilt details to depict a man standing on the shoulder of the giant Buddha statue at Todai-ji, lowering some rope for his companion to grab, of whom we can only see one arm as his head is obscured by his hat, the Buddha also only partly visible, his neck wrinkles, earlobe, hair locks, and facial features neatly incised. The ivory bowl superbly polished, the reverse with a central himotoshi, the cord attachment within.

DIAMETER 4.3 cm

Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and some rubbing to gilt. A thin crack to the ivory bowl.

The present netsuke depicts the giant statue of Buddha at Todai-ji, a Buddhist temple complex in Nara. The statue is the largest bronze seated Buddha in Japan at 15 m high and was completed in 751. The Great Buddha statue has been recast several times for various reasons, including earthquake damage. The current hands of the statue were made in the Momoyama Period, and the head was made in the Edo period. The Great Buddha Hall (Daibutsuden) has been rebuilt twice after fire. The current building was finished in 1709 and was the world's largest wooden building until 1998.

Auction comparison:
Compare a near-identical ivory kagamibuta netsuke depicting pilgrims climbing the great Buddha, 4.4 cm wide, at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 28 April 2023, Vienna, lot 307 (sold for EUR 2,600).

Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number DE-K-231109-662).

This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.