Beschreibung:

Lot details Unsigned Japan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868) The large manju-style netsuke carved as a craggy rock, a shishi with neatly incised features nestled within, surrounded by budding, leafy peony flowers. The natural texture and form of the umimatsu is visible on the back, showing the transformation of the hard material from its original state into the artists creation. A single, large himotoshi to the back. The umimatsu has some beautiful marbling and reddish inclusions. LENGTH 5.6 cm Condition: Good condition with minor wear, natural flaws, and a loss to the lower right edge. Umimatsu (lit. ‘sea pine’), commonly known as black coral, is a soft deep-water coral. Many patterns of growth are unique to black coral, growing in whips, trees, fans, or coils, and their size ranges from 10 to 300 cm. While it is commonly used in various forms of jewelry in Japanese art, it is also believed to have apotropaic power and is for this reason used in various medical treatments as well.