MASAYUKI: A FINE WOOD 'DOUBLE MASK' NETSUKE OF THE EBISU TYPE

MASAYUKI: A FINE WOOD 'DOUBLE MASK' NETSUKE OF THE EBISU TYPE

By Masayuki, signed Masayuki 正之
Japan, Edo (Tokyo), 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

Published:
Bushell, Raymond (1961) The Netsuke Handbook by Ueda Reikichi, p. 91, no. 87.
Bushell, Raymond (1985), Netsuke Masks, p. 59, pl. 240.

Finely carved as the head of the lucky god Ebisu, portrayed smiling ear to ear, his eyes cheerful and leering to one side, his tongue sticking out, all flanked by thick pendulous earlobes. A second tengu-like face can be viewed by turning the netsuke upside down. The reverse with a central bar housing a single himotoshi and signed MASAYUKI.

HEIGHT 4.6 cm

Condition: Good condition with minor wear. Repair to the himotoshi bar.
Provenance: Ex-collection Raymond and Frances Bushell. Sotheby's, Netsuke from the Collection of Raymond and Frances Bushell, 21 March 2000, New York, lot 303. European collection P. Jacquesson, acquired from the above.