Beschreibung:

By Isshinsai Masayuki, signed Isshinsai 一心齋 Masayuki 正之 with kakihan Japan, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) The design finely engraved in shishiaibori (sunken relief) with Shoki the demon queller standing proud, wearing a long flowing robe, and holding his trusty sword, the blade continuing over to the other side of the tooth. He is looking for oni to catch, but there appear to be none around. A view of the underside however reveals a little oni squashed in and showing a mischievous smile, clearly overjoyed at having bested the demon hunter, at least for now. Two asymmetrical himotoshi to the reverse along with the signature ISSHINSAI MASAYUKI with a kakihan. HEIGHT 5 cm Condition: Very good condition, appealingly worn, natural age cracks, few light scratches. Provenance: French private collection. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related marine tooth netsuke by Isshinsai Masayuki, also carved in shishiaibori but depicting a porter, illustrated in Lazarnick, George (1981) Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures, vol. 1, p. 747.