Seiyōdō Tomiharu (1733-1810)

Carved in ebony, a crab rests watchfully on an old section of driftwood. The annular rings of the wood are exposed and worn, though slight traces of the tree bark can be discerned to the side.

Signed in inscribed characters: 石見州、可愛河、青陽堂富春、享年六十 歳而彫刻之 “Iwami no kuni (Iwami shu), Enokawa*, Seiyōdō Tomiharu, kyonen rokujussai ni chokoku kore” [This is carved by Seiyōdō Tomiharu, at the age of sixty, by the Eno River, Iwami Province”]

Length: 4.2cm

PROVENANCE:
Julius and Arlette Katchen
HIH Princess Takamado collection

PUBLISHED:
Katchen, A., Netsuke7, Paris 2010, vol.2, p.180, K534 *The river 可愛河 Enokawa is often catalogued as
“Kaaigawa” “Kaai gawa” “Kawai gawa” etc, but the correct local/old traditional pronunciation is “Enokawa”.