Japanese Works of Art - 12th November 2024
Lot 410
A LARGE JAPANESE NETSUKE OF AN ONI NEMBUTSU
Estimate £2,000 - £3,000 | Hammer £21420
Inc. Buyers Premium
Description
A LARGE JAPANESE NETSUKE OF AN ONI NEMBUTSU
EDO PERIOD, 18TH/19TH CENTURY
Boldly carved with the eyes inlaid in horn; the ferocious-looking demon is depicted standing with a wide toothy grin, wearing monk's robes opening to reveal his torso; holding prayer beads in one hand and a mallet in the other, a gong tied around his waist, 10.4cm.
Provenance: from the Mark and Elizabeth Harding Collection, South Africa. Previously in the W L Behrens Collection, sold at Glendining & Co, London, 1913. Illustrated in the sale catalogue, no.46.
Published: H L Joly, Legend in Japanese Art, pp.262-64 where the netsuke is illustrated as part of the entry on oni.