Project Description
Prunus Wood Netsuke of Kakinomoto Hadesu and the Tiger by Gyokurintei
The hero about to strike the cowering tiger a blow to the head. The wood has a pleasing grain and polish. The left eye of the tiger has an inlaid brass pupil, while the other and those of Hadesu are drilled and stained black
This is a variant of a netsuke which was in the Behrens collection (no. 4789, illustrated on pl. LXI of Joly’s catalogue), which Joly considered a later copy of another Behrens piece, by Tsuguhisa (no. 4782, illustrated alongside the other)
Signed on a raised reserve on the tiger’s breast. Circa 1850
Height 4cm
MR4516
