NETSUKE: WARRIOR.
Japan. Edo period. About 1800.

Warrior; standing with bare torso; as his cloak slipped off his shoulders; billowing over his loincloth; and wearing tabi on his feet. In his right hand he holds a bared tachi; his arm drawn up at an angle; and his head turned to the left with an angry expression on his face. His left hand is tensed in the gesture of defiance known as aragato. His strange hairdo may indicate that he usually wears his hair in the 'mage' style; that is tied up over the parting; though now come loose. Boxwood; boldly carved and engraved; with a fine; shiny patina; and with inlaid black eyes. Signed on the back of the left leg: Tomotane. According to MCI; p.921; it might be a carver born 1781 in Ky魌o and mentioned in the Soken Kisho; yet there is another carver of that name; though only known for ivory work. The piece may even be by a third carver of the same name; but Soken Kisho seems to refer to our piece which was made around 1800. Some traces of wear. H.9.1cm. Condition C. Two old repairs: the tip of the tachi; and a fault on the edge of the tsuba renewed.

Provenance:
-Marcel Lorber Collection
-Martin Newstead Collection; Illustrated Hurtig; Masterpieces p. 152; no. 613.
-Hindson Collection; p. 73; no. 187; and colorplate facing p. 76; no. 187 Auction 23.6.1969.

Literature:
-Illustrated in an article by M.T. Hindson in The Connoisseur; Nov. 1965.
-Illustrated in color on jacket of Neil Davey; Netsuke; revised ed. 1982.Art trade; Van Ham.