An ivory netsuke of Ebisu climbing over a big fugu fish. Late 18th century - image-1

Lot 160 D‡α

An ivory netsuke of Ebisu climbing over a big fugu fish. Late 18th century

Auction 1146 - overview Cologne
06.12.2019, 14:00 - Japan, India/South-East Asia
Estimate: 600 € - 800 €
Result: 930 € (incl. premium)
Print page
Watchlist

An ivory netsuke of Ebisu climbing over a big fugu fish. Late 18th century

Holding a long rope's end in his right hand while pulling himself on the back of a big fugu fish, which swallowed the other end of the rope. The fish's leathery skin well rendered, the eye pupils of dark horn. One eye pupil missing. Signed Nobutoshi.
Height 3.4 cm; length 5.1 cm

Ebisu, the god of fishermen and luck, is portrayed here catching a fish, itself symbol of luck and wealth for fishermen in coast cities such as Shimonoseki.

Provenance

Private collection, Rhineland-Palatinate, acquired at Offermann & Schmitz, Wuppertal