A RARE JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE EDO/MEIJI PERIOD Depicting a tall standing figure with another...

A RARE JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE

EDO/MEIJI PERIOD

Depicting a tall standing figure with another smaller one sat on his shoulder, the scantily-clad man with a skirt tied around his waist and his head turned to the side, a joyous expression on his face, the smaller figure wearing a conical hat and a coat and trousers with scrolling motifs, possibly a Dutchman, signed Nobufusa to the side, 8cm.

Provenance: An English private collection, Surrey.

This netsuke may depict the story of Wasobioye in the Land of the Giants, a tale related to Gulliver's Travels and reported in H L Joly's Legends in Japanese Art.