MASATOSHI: A WOOD NETSUKE OF A WOMAN WITH MASK

MASATOSHI: A FINE WOOD SHUNGA NETSUKE OF A WOMAN WITH TENGU MASK
By Masatoshi, signed Masatoshi 正利
Japan, Nagoya, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

Published: Museum fuer Ostasiatische Kunst Koeln (2017) Netsuke & Sagemono, p. 124, no. 206.

Finely carved as a kneeling mother carrying her child on her back, a small grim-faced Daruma doll next to them. The woman's expression is radiating with pleasure, the reason is revealed on the underside, which shows the inside of a long-nosed konoha-tengu mask on which she is sitting. The wood bearing a fine patina. Natural himotoshi between the folds of her robe underneath and signed MASATOSHI.

LENGTH 4 cm

Condition: Very good condition with minor surface wear.
Provenance: Ex-collection Teddy Hahn, Darmstadt.

Auction comparison:
Compare to a related netsuke by Masatoshi of Okame sitting on a tengu mask, sold at Lempertz, Netsuke aus der Sammlung Albert Brockhaus, 27 June 2020, Cologne, lot 404 (sold for 6,875 EUR).