NETSUKE: HANDAKA SONJA WITH DRAGON.
Japan. Edo period. After 1835. Nait?Toyomasa (1773-1856).

Dark wood; eyes inlaid with light horn. Rakan Handaka Sonja with frightened opened mouth and similar facial expression; squatting with a begging bowl in the raised right hand; from which a mighty dragon is ascending and curling between clouds; ending in eddies. Holding a fulfilling jewel in his left hand. Densely grained wood; very delicately carved and engraved; the eyes inlaid light horn with dark pupils. Natural Himotoshi. On the turned-down hem of the coat signed: Toyomasa; next to that a tiny paper label with the artist's name thoroughly written by hand in Latin letters is attached. The author has encountered this type of label several times and it seems to hint to an English pre-war collection. Additional green hanging label with no. 296 and the note: Toyomasa; 18th c (ex Dutch Coll.). H.5.5cm. Signed: Toyomasa; cf. MCI p. 948-956. Condition A.

A very similar model; donated by Harry Seymour Trower; can be found in the British Museum; London

Literature:
-Barker and Smith 1976; p. 113; ill. 213.
-Noriko Tsuchiya: The British Museum. Netsuke; 100 miniature masterpieces from Japan; p.
52.
Art trade; Van Ham.