Lot 513 D‡α

An ivory netsuke of a monkey and a catfish, by Hidemasa. Early 19th century

Wearing a sleeveless jacket with a bamboo leaf pattern and seated next to a namazu, the earthquake fish, the monkey holds down the fish’s head with a double gourd; a further sign of having the namazu under control is the rope tied around the fish’s head. The eye pupils of monkey and fish of horn in three different colours. Signed Hidemasa.
Height 2.5 cm; width 4.5 cm