Antique Japanese Ivory Netsuke
Sennin
Holding Monkey
Signature: Tomoyuki, circa: early 1900S'
h. 3.75 in.(9.5cm), w. 1 in.(2.5cm), d. o.75 in.(2cm)
Condition: excellent!

A tall and slender 18th century style netsuke; compact and tactile, well marked with striations and layering, cream to gold in color with engraving and sumi, lightly stained and polished to a high hand finish. Depicting a Sennin, a rustic immortal of great age who lives in the wilderness, consuming only wild herbs and magical elixirs. He wears a mugwort cape, the mugwort having great medicinal properties, and carries a monkey, a capricious creature who has the power to subdue mischievous spirits and to aid humans in overcoming illness or poverty brought by witches and goblins. An auspicious and protective talisman. Himotoshi as two uneven holes at the back; stands on its own. Sgnature next to himotoshi: Tomoyuki.

There are several known netsukeshi by the name of Tomoyuki. In addition to the signature the details of this piece confirm the attribution to Tomoyuki (1852-1934) who worked in the style of the celebrated Takamura Koun.

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