YAMAGUCHI OKATOMO: A FINE IVORY NETSUKE OF A PUPPY WITH WARAJI

YAMAGUCHI OKATOMO: A FINE IVORY NETSUKE OF A PUPPY WITH WARAJI
By Yamaguchi Okatomo, signed Okatomo 岡友
Japan, Kyoto, late 18th to early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

A sweet ivory netsuke, particularly appealing due to the deep yellow-orange patina, depicting a young chubby puppy playing with a worn-out sandal (waraji). The pupils are inlays of dark horn. Signed within a rectangular reserve OKATOMO. Natural himotoshi.

HEIGHT 2.7 cm, LENGTH 4 cm

Condition: Small, professional restoration to the rope of the sandal. The ivory worn with a very good patina.
Provenance: French private collection.

Auction comparison:
Though there are several variations of puppies by Okatomo, there is only one other recorded netsuke of a puppy with waraji, which sold at Christie's, The Raymond and Frances Bushell Collection of Netsuke Part I, 27 October 1987, London, lot 236 (estimate 6.000-8.000 GBP).
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