Japan Wood A katabori netsuke depicting a man smoking a pipe. - 3.8 cm

Elegant Japanese carved wood netsuke, depicting a man seated, smoking a kiseru, probably made at the end of the Edo period in the 19th century. The composition, particularly compact, is characteristic of katabori: the figure is entirely designed in the round, with the legs folded under the body, while the arms, the garment, and the long pipe integrate harmoniously into a reduced volume. Despite its dimensions of only 3.8 cm, the sculpture shows remarkable richness of detail. The face is one of the piece’s strong points: the strongly modeled features, the mouth occupied by the pipe, and the slightly familiar expression give the character a particularly vibrant presence. The folds of the garment and the small incised motifs that ornament it further enhance the decorative quality of the whole. The reverse reveals the netsuke’s functional design, with the himotoshi intended for the cord passage. Nearby appears a vertical inscription whose reading seems likely to correspond to 火用心 (hi-yōjin), an expression that could be translated as “prudence with fire” or “attention to fire.” This reading remains cautious, but would form a particularly relevant iconographic motif with the figure shown smoking. The wood is dense, finely worked, and presents a beautiful honey-brown to dark-brown patina. Its appearance is consistent with tsuge-type wood, traditionally used in Japan for netsuke, although no definitive botanical identification can be stated based on the photographs alone. The sculpture was conceived to be viewed from all angles: the underside and the back are also worked, and the openings of the himotoshi are integrated into the composition without upsetting its balance. A small piece of character, typical of Japanese netsuke art, combining function, daily life observation, and subtle narrative in an exceptionally small format. Dimensions: 3.8 × 3 × 2.2 cm Weight: 8.7 g Japan, late Edo period, 19th century. video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/xzy6wyg1wcmw6rs4jm03e/ALQrcGJvsR3QnElLLKo4qZk?rlkey=a8cs24ruovs8c8s2hyhvydyl5&dl=0

Schätzpreis:€500

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