Until 1st Jan, 2025
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Ɏ A RARE EARLY IVORY NETSUKE OF SHIRO AND DAIKOKU’S RAT
LOT 57 - NE1124
Unsigned
Japan, late 17th to early 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Of early tobori (Chinese style) type, depicting the oni Shiro seated atop a tsuchi (mound), dressed in a tiger skin loincloth, cowering with his hands folded as a large rat with a holly branch in its mouth approaches him. Very large, asymmetrical himotoshi to the back through the base. The ivory bearing a naturally grown, golden patina with patches of amber.
HEIGHT 3.3 cm
Condition: Good condition with wear and expected age cracks. Some old nicks to the back of the oni's head.
The theme Oni Shiro is based on the legend in which the King of Hell Enma-o one day sent away his most evil and cunning devil named Shiro to get rid of the god of luck Daikoku. The Buddhist deities believed that this God of Happiness distracted people too much from the Buddhist ideals and oriented them only towards material prosperity. When Daikoku discovered the devil, he ordered his rat to chase Shiro away with a holly branch. The holly branch is considered a talisman and is hung on doorposts to ward off evil and devils. This subject, which is occasionally dated to the late 17th century (INSJ, Vol. 17, No. 4, Winter 1997, p. 56), must have been very popular for a short period of time and was more commonly presented as a crouching oni with a rat on its back (see an ivory Oni Shiro netsuke, unsigned, 18th century, formerly in the Trumpf collection, and now in the Linden Museum, Stuttgart, accession number OA 18754).
Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number FR2306300196-K).
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