Ɏ AN EARLY IVORY NETSUKE OF A RECLINING BUGAKU DANCER

拍品描述

Ɏ AN EARLY IVORY NETSUKE OF A RECLINING BUGAKU DANCER Unsigned Japan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868) The dancer wearing a tori-kabuto and holding a demonic mask in one hand, as he rests on his side leaning on one arm, his loose robe falling from one shoulder. The robe is incised with cloud patterns and the hat with scrolling vines. Generously excavated, asymmetrical himotoshi through the underside. The ivory bearing a beautiful honey patina. LENGTH 7.5 cm The traditional tori-kabuto suggests that the figure is a Bugaku performer, although the mask appears more likely to be of the Noh demonic character Beshimi or, for that matter, given the shape of this face, of the Kyogen or folk character Buaku (despite the absence of teeth biting lower lip). Kyogen performances were typically comic interludes in the long Noh plays, and it might well be that the carver intended a subtle message in the mismatching of costume and mask, or a play on words between Bugaku and Buaku. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related ivory netsuke of a Bugaku dancer, unsigned, illustrated in Sydney L. Moss Ltd. (2004) Outside the Box, pp. 24-25, no. 7. Compare a closely related ivory netsuke of a Bugaku dancer, illustrated in Davey, Neil K. (1974) Netsuke: A Comprehensive Study Based on the M.T. Hindson Collection, p. 360, no. 1085. Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number AT 25-B-1257). This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.

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