Hidemasa
Circa 1860
A plump puppy carved in a black tagayasan (cassia siamea). The animal’s chubby appearance with a blunt muzzle, soft ears and short curled tail echoes that of the many puppies depicted in the paintings of Kyoto artist Maruyama Ōkyo (1733-1795). Its brows are slightly knotted as it lowers it head to groom an extended paw. The coat is boldly incised and the eyes are double-inlaid in pale and dark horn.
Although works by the Kyoto artist of this name are well known, they are typically of ivory and this netsuke appears to be in another style and by a different hand.
Published:
Auktionhaus Lempertz, Cologne, sale 26th November 1993, Lot 802
