For
the traditional Japanese the ritual of the bath, the ofuro, is an essential element
of the day. This is a ritual of purification, relaxation and rejuvenation.
This 19th Century ivory netsuke depicts an older man in a traditional ofuro.
There is a striking realism to the figure: the man’s back is sinewy, depicting
a once muscled body that has begun to shrink with age. This is contrasted with
his arms that are still muscled. The expression on the man’s face communicates
a deep relaxation as he holds a cloth to his head to wipe off the sweat that arises
from the steaming water.
The artist Somei is registered (2696) in M.T.Hindson's Collection by Neil
K. Davey. The artist’s signature is at the bottom of the figure.
