Until 31st Dec, 2025
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A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF A HERDBOY SLEEPING ON AN OX
Lot 85 - NE0525
Unsigned
Japan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
The large ox recumbent, its head lowered to the left, with a rope halter passing over its side, the herdsman seated atop the ox, his dangling feet resting against the hooves of the cattle, as he takes a nap, the young boy’s head gently placed over his hands. The body of the animal is remarkably carved with articulated ribs and spine, the fur beautifully incised, the head detailed with curved horns, and the eyes polished black. The large himotoshi are formed by one irregularly cut hole to the back and a second hole to the underside.
LENGTH 4.8 cm
Condition: The right horn and ear restored. Otherwise good condition with typical wear and light traces of use.
The imagery plays on a Zen Buddhist parable which draws a parallel between the herdboy and ox and the attainment of enlightenment. It is most famously portrayed in the series of ten ox herding pictures (originally only eight) accompanied by a series of short poems by Kakuan Shien.
Literature comparison:
It has been suggested that this artist may have been related to the rare Soken Kisho master Satake Soshichi, see Lazarnick, George (1981) Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures (LNIA), Vol. 2, p. 1037, for a related wood netsuke of a goat with a similar himotoshi roughly cut through the belly.
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