TWO MEIJI PERIOD IVORY NETSUKEIvory netsukeJapan, Meiji periodThe first netsuke of the ‘seven wisemen’ in a boat, the bow shaped like the head of a mythical bird. The seven wiseman are crammed into the rather small boat, bearded and wearing Chinese robes and Daoist caps, and holding various attributes of immortals. The scene reminds one of the ‘seven wisemen in a bamboo grove’ or the seven lucky gods, which are often depicted in the Takarabune, or treasure ship. Signed Masayuki on the underside, on an inlaid tablet. The second ivory netsuke depicting a man with a daruma-doll.Dimensions: LENGTH of the first netsuke 4.1 CM, HEIGHT of the second netsuke 2.9 CMCondition: The staff of one of the wisemen chipped, otherwise all in good conditionProvenance: Austrian private collection, acquired at Galerie Zacke in the 1990s