Unsigned

Hirado ware, mid-19th century

A white-glazed ceramic netsuke of a recumbent horse, its limbs drawn in against its body with the left foreleg daintly bent at the knee and the full tail forming a rich cascade, giving the impression of movement. The eye pupils are painted in black.

A white horse is considered an auspicious animal in Shinto belief and a worthy steed for a lord.

Length: 5.6cm