Caption

Netsuke in the shape of Daikoku and Ebisu, Ryôji fl. ca. 1886–1900? sculptor, Japanese, Meiji 1868–1912, figurine netsuke katabori. From the group of seven gods of all happiness come two figures, finely carved in a miniature rocky landscape with a bridge: Daikoku, sitting on a rat and holding his attribute—a hammer—in his left hand, with a bag on his back; and Ebisu holding a fishing rod and riding a giant fish. The miniature 4 cm high shows meticulous detail: facial features, fish-scale outlines, bamboo leaves on the openwork rocks, the rat's fur, and the rodent's eyes marked with microscopic inlays of black-dyed bone. 4th quarter of the 19th century, Japan. Height 3.9 cm; width 4.0 cm., A small carved figurine in shades of beige and brown sits centered on a smooth gray surface with a gray background, showing a group of two figures standing on an irregular, porous base that resembles a textured rock; the taller figure wears a rounded hat and a rounded backpack-like object with carved floral motifs and holds a rounded object atop a staff, while the smaller figure beside them wears a patterned garment and carries a pole, and the carved base displays a mix of smooth and hollowed areas with darker brown recesses and lighter highlights, with the entire piece reflected faintly on the surface.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A24_082

License type

Rights managed

Available size

43.6Mb (313.9Kb) / 15.9in x 10.6in / 4778 x 3186 (300dpi)

Keywords

Netsuke shape Daikoku Ebisu Ryôji fl ca 1886–1900 sculptor Japanese Meiji 1868–1912 figurine netsuke katabori group seven gods happiness come two figures finely carved miniature rocky landscape bridge sitting rat holding attribute hammer left hand bag back Ebisu holding fishing rod riding giant fish miniature 4 cm high meticulous detail facial features fish-scale outlines bamboo leaves openwork rocks rat's fur rodent's eyes marked microscopic inlays black-dyed bone 4th quarter 19th century Japan Height 3.9 cm width 4.0 cm small carved figurine shades beige brown sits centered smooth gray surface gray background showing two figures standing irregular porous base resembles textured rock taller figure wears rounded hat rounded backpack- object carved floral motifs holds rounded object atop staff smaller figure beside them wears patterned garment carries pole carved base displays mix smooth hollowed areas darker brown recesses lighter highlights entire piece reflected faintly surface.