BRONZE BUDDHAWOOD BUDDHASTONE BUDDHAJAPANESE NETSUKE
    
Last Buddha Buddha Museum LogoFuture Buddha

Antique Japanese Skull Netsuke
Monk Contemplating
The First Noble Truth

Netsuke Signature: Juzan, (Ishikawa Komei)
Tokyo, 19th Century, circa: 1852-1913

Recorded in: 1) Netsuke, A Comprehensive Study Based
on the M.T. Hindson Collection by Neil K. Davey, #974,
2) Netsuke Handbook by Ueda Reikichi #418
Condition: excellent
Juzan Netsuke Signature

In this carving by Ishiwara Komei, (also known by his go as Mitsuaki and Hoyusai ) the blind monk, aged and with failing senses, examines death now by actual touch rather than by youthful speculation, and while he is close to annihilation, he raises high his mala with a smile, showing his faith in the essential power of the Truth that transcends life and death.

Monk Contemplating Skull Netsuke

Private Collection

Born in 1852, Komei, after a period as a painter, learned carving from Masamitsu Kikugawa, a member of a family of carvers in Tokyo. Masamitsu made netsuke until the advent of foreign trade through Yokohama, when he began to produce only okimono for export. Ishikawa Komei was Masumitsu’s most famous student, whose remarkable technique made him the most acclaimed ivory carver of the Meiji period, not only for the subtlety and conviction of his carving, but for his ability to express profound thought through modest means.

This netsuke is a superb example of the fabled skill of Komei. The weary yet happy face of the monk, the grisly skull with its missing tooth, and especially the hand, which doesn’t rest on the surface of the skull, but is held touching it tentatively with fingertips, as if to find out what it really is; these subtle details comprise an outstanding work by a known master of netsuke.

  
Monk Contemplating Skull Netsuke  rtMonk Contemplating Skull Netsuke  lt
  
  
Monk Contemplating Skull Netsuke back ltMonk Contemplating Skull Netsuke
  
  
 
Monk Contemplating Skull Netsuke Signed Juzan
  
Last BuddhaFuture Buddha
  
    
BRONZE BUDDHAWOOD BUDDHASTONE BUDDHAJAPANESE NETSUKE
    
SHAKYAMUNI ABOUT US
    


We accept all major credit cards via PayPal

No Packaging and Handling Fee
FREE SHIPPING IN THE U.S. FOR SELECTED ITEM

  

Authenticity Guaranteed
BuddhaMuseum.Com is specializing in temple and family worshipped Buddhist arts. We guarantee all artifacts to be genuine as described. It is our policy never to deliberately list fakes as genuine. All contemporary Buddhist art listed will always stated as such.

14 days Unconditional Money-back Guaranteed
Certificate of Authenticity upon request. Items that are significantly deviating from the information provided by us regarding culture and dating, may be returned for a prompt refund. Refund of the net sale price, excluding freight and insurance. Buyer to pay the return shipping cost.

  
Contact us: Info@BuddhaMuseum.comBuddhaMuseum.Com 2001-2018 Copyrights ©