A RARE JAPANESE BAMBOO SASHI NETSUKE OF A SHISHI BY MORIKAWA TOEN (1820-1894)

A RARE JAPANESE BAMBOO SASHI NETSUKE OF A SHISHI BY MORIKAWA TOEN (1820-1894)

EDO OR MEIJI, 19TH CENTURY

The mythical beast depicted sitting on its haunches, holding a circular handle in its mouth and raised on a double lotus throne, the base with flowerheads, inscribed to the back Shosoin, hoko, heigoro no shishi baku, Morikawa Toen (copy of an incense burner handle with lion dog at the Shosoin Treasure House by Morikawa Toen) with kao, 10.3cm.

Provenance: formerly the collection of Virginia Atchley (1911-2013), Los Angeles.

Exhibited: the International Netsuke Collector's Society Convention, Honolulu, 1977.

Cf. V Atchley & N Davey, The Virginia Atchley Collection of Japanese Miniature Arts, p.88, no.N106, where this very netsuke is illustrated and described. Also, see G Lazarick, The Signature Book of Netsuke, Inro and Ojime Artists in Photographs, p. 384, and id., Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures, p.1096, where both sides of this netsuke are illustrated and discussed.

Morikawa Toen was known for his Nara ningyo (dolls) sculptures and as a noh actor. His work was admired by the Daimyo of Tosa, the magistrate of Nara, who awarded him with names from Japanese mythology. The Imperial household also became his patrons.