Netsuke - Ivory - IKKOSAI - NETSUKE OF A MONKEY WITH OCTOPUS - Japan - Meiji period (1868-1912)
Description A superbly detailed and finely polished ivory netsuke depicting a monkey quarreling with an octopus which is seated on a bellshaped vessel. The octopus is wearing a shirt and is holding a mallet up high menacingly, while the monkey is gripping its tentacles. The netsuke references a legend in which the octopusphysician to Ryujin, the Dragon King of the Sea, prescribes a monkey’s liver to heal the King’s daughter. Natural himotoshi Datation End of 19th century - 1885 School Tokyo Signature signature IKKOSAI in a polished reserve Condition The ivory slightly worn in some areas, some age cracks, generally in good condition Provenance: British private collection
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Description A superbly detailed and finely polished ivory netsuke depicting a monkey quarreling with an octopus which is seated on a bellshaped vessel. The octopus is wearing a shirt and is holding a mallet up high menacingly, while the monkey is gripping its tentacles. The netsuke references a legend in which the octopusphysician to Ryujin, the Dragon King of the Sea, prescribes a monkey’s liver to heal the King’s daughter. Natural himotoshi Datation End of 19th century - 1885 School Tokyo Signature signature IKKOSAI in a polished reserve Condition The ivory slightly worn in some areas, some age cracks, generally in good condition Provenance: British private collection
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