OHARA MITSUHIRO: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF A BIZEN CERAMIC OF HOTEI By Ohara Mitsuhiro, signed Mitsuhiro 光廣 with seal Ohara 大原 Japan, Osaka, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) A faithfully carved wood netsuke of a Bizen ceramic figure depicting Hotei holding a fan and his treasure bag, finely carved and stained. A seam runs around the whole piece, as it would through the real Bizen ceramic. The finish imitates the salt glaze very well. Typical small himotoshi to the reverse, the other 'natural' through the hollow opening. Signed MITSUHIRO with seal OHARA. Wood netsuke by Mitsuhiro are considerably rare. This type is described in Takarabukuro (Mitsuhiro's notebook) under no. 152 (p. 128) as 'Hotei, Fushimi Ware': "An exact copy. Finish with a round knife. Hollow out fully and give it an antique feeling. Make use of the hollowed part for a cord-hole. Carve it after a real object." HEIGHT 4.5 cm Condition: Excellent condition. Provenance: British collection. Auction comparison: A variant in a different material was sold by Bonhams, The Edward Wrangham Collection of Japanese Art Part I, 9 November 2010, London, lot 163 (sold for 5.400 GBP).