Antique Japanese Netsuke
Kappa
Holding His Water
Signed: Tomoshu. Circa: 19th-early 20th C.
h. 1 in.(2.5cm), w. 2.25 in.(5.7cm), d. 1.4 in.(3.5cm)
Overall very good condition

This seemingly frightened creature is a Japanese mythical Kappa (River Boy) known for its mischievous nature. He is believed to be a trickster who would lure people into rivers, kidnap children and so on. As shown here, Kappa has a short beak, a turtle shell, and a plate-like skull with a caved-in water reservoir that must be filled to stay in power. Hence he held tight to his head to keep the water from spilling. This Kappa is expressive with large inlaid eyes, tactile and thoroughly polished to a shine, minor hairlines and natural crystalline on the rear right leg, signed Tomoshu.

Private Collection

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