A JAPANESE WOOD NETSUKE OF GENERAL GENTOKU

A JAPANESE WOOD NETSUKE OF GENERAL GENTOKU

EDO PERIOD, 18TH OR 19TH CENTURY

The armour-clad warrior depicted riding his horse Tokiro, his head turned to the left and with a ferocious expression, raised on a flat oval base with a central himotoshi hole, 4.3cm.

Provenance: an English private collection, Somerset, purchased in Japan.

Gentoku was a Chinese Emperor, and one of the Three Heroes of the Han Dynasty (together with Kan'u and Chohi). He is often depicted riding his horse as he escapes from a castle besieged by his brother-in-law.