Japanese ivory Netsuke, Meiji period, 1868-1912

Height x width x depth: 10.7 x 3 x 2 cm. Weight: 46 g

elephant ivory (Elephas maximus Linnaeus, 1758 or Loxodonta africana Blumenbach, 1797).
It depicts a smiling male figure, dressed in richly decorated traditional Japanese dress. The face is characterised by a lively expression, conveying energy and vitality.
The carving shows exceptional craftsmanship, typical of the Meiji period. The folds of the fabric and details of the clothing are carved with extreme precision. Facial expressions and posture denote movement and realism, elements that craftsmen of the time tried to capture in their work.
Netsuke were born as small traditional Japanese sculptures, usually made of ivory or wood, whose origin probably dates back to the 17th century, with the purpose of fastening some small containers or objects to the belt, in fact they were characterised by small passage holes; over time they became real small sculptures in the round, highly appreciated in the collectors' market.

This lot, accompanied by a CITES certificate and expertise issued by Ce.S.Ar Centro studi archeometici, is only available for sale with shipments within the European Union.