Project Description
Wood and ivory netsuke of Daruma, by Hoichi
Enveloped in his robe of red lacquered wood, his face and signature tablet of ivory, the former with stippled and stained beard, the eyes looking upwards and to one side
Signed. Circa 1880
Height: 3.1 cm
Provenance:
Davies and Horne, London, acquired by the grandmother of the present owner, 1935
Registered under the de minimis rule governing the sale of ivory ref: 9GWCW31N
Meinertzhagen identified several carvers of this name, but only one who used this signature, known for a wood netsuke of a karako with physalis, the fruit of red stained ivory. Fuld somehow neglected to list it. It is worth comparing with a wood netsuke with ivory face by Ipposai, sold in the Guy de Lasteyried sale at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr, 14th June 2023, lot 196. One is tempted to think that Hoichi may have been apprenticed to Ipposai
MR4988
