By Mitani Goho, signed Koryo no ju Goho Japan, Aki Province, late 18th to early 19th century, late Edo period (1615-1868) Published: Rokusho, Kobijutsu (1996) Rokusho, Vol. 20, Maria Sho bo, p. 87, no. 129. Earle, Joe (2000) The Robert S. Huthart, p. 177, no. 152. Carved in two parts, the chubby, smiling god holds a rolled hand scroll aloft with one hand and a large fan with the other, while seated on his large sack of treasure, the neck of which is tied at the front. Signed on the top of the sack Koryo no ju GOHO (Goho, resident in Koryo). HEIGHT 39 cm (incl. sack), HEIGHT 30 cm (the figure only) Condition: Extensive wear, natural age cracks (some with old fillings), minor losses, overall fine original condition. Provenance: The Robert S. Huthart Collection. Mitani Goho (late 18th-early 19th century) was a Japanese netsuke carver from Aki Province. According to collector Anne Hull Grundy, “The wooden works of Goho are outstanding, even beside the carvings of other masters of the Iwami School. In fact, they have never been surpassed by any other carvers.” Auction comparison: For a netsuke by this celebrated artist see Bonhams, The Robert S. Huthart Collection of Iwami Netsuke Part I, 15 May 2019, London, lot 70 (sold for 52,562 GBP).