Netsuke - Elephant ivory - Ho-gen Ranteï - Drinking Shô-jô - Japan - Edo Period (1600-1868)

Description Shô-jo are legendary creatures of Chinese origin. Male or female, they live by the sea, have a human face, and very long red hair. They can talk, but with a childish voice, and a tradition make them a personification of the orang-outan (Shô-jô in Japanese : "forest person") . These harmless creatures have a dangerous flaw : the indulge so much in drinking that they cannot resist sake and are hence often intoxicated and sleepy or sleeping which makes them easy preys for fishermen who prepare a popular red dye mixing their hair with their blood. Here Ran-teï represents the sojo holding a sake dipper close to a jar full with the hard liquor. As always with Hogen Ran-teï the carving is exquisite and finely executed : details of the dress, the flow of the long hair, the inebriated face with inlaid eyes, the position of the hands on the dipper handle, the details of the disturbed surface of the sake in the jar. Ran-Teï was a top tier netsuke carver, originally from Izu-mo, he lived in Kyoto and worked during the end of the edo period. His remarkable talent was recognized by the Emperor who gave him the honorary title "Hô-gen". This title was the second highest title given by the Emperor and was bestowed to independant workers that He wanted to dignify. For artists, it was almost always given only to painters, and is an exceptional recognition for a netsuke carver. . Datation Mid - 19th century - C. 1855 Condition Overall god condition with light stains please check pictures for global condition Provenance French private collection School Kyoto Weigth 21 gr Signature Hogen Ranteï Bibliography - Delivery For luxembourg the delivery will be made by the seller. For other countries delivery made by Fedex ! ! ! Important ! ! ! When the purchased item requires it, a wooden box / MDF will be realized implying a delay of 5 to 7 working days before shipping. Shipping cost will be applied per item. Therefore, if a buyer buys multiple pieces this amount will be charged per item regardless of the number of items purchased. Follow-up of the shipment by tracking, transport insurance for the amount of the sale excluding Catawiki commission. Pre-convention ivory specimen. Complies with CE Regulation 338-97 Art. 2. w. mc of 09 December 1996. Specimen prior to June 1, 1947. Submitted according to the decree of May 4, 2017 to a prior declaration provided for in Article L. 412-1 code environment. A physical expertise of the piece will be realized by an independent expert confirming that the piece was realized before 1947 and is well of the announced period. This document will be given to the buyer after purchase, the document price is 50 euro and is included in the delivery costs. For an exit of the EU, a CITES of re-export will be necessary, this one being at the charge of the future purchaser. The issuance of such a document is not automatic The signature is deciphered for information only and regarding my study of the piece and my global knowledge. Buyers are responsable for import regulation and restrictions of their own country