A RARE BAMBOO NETSUKE OF KANZAN AND JITTOKU WITH DRUNKEN MINOGAME Unsigned
Japan, 18^th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

Depicting the two famous immortals Kanzan (Hanshan) to the right and Jittoku to the left (Shide), the latter with one large tuft of hair on the forehead and the former with two tufts of hair on each side. Both are laughing mischievously as they lure a minogame with a filled sake saucer (sakazuki), the thousand-year-old tortoise lapping up the liquid, and Jittoku readying his gourd-shaped sake flask for a re-fill. The bamboo showing characteristic dotted markings throughout and bearing a stunning patina. Good, asymmetrical himotoshi underneath the minogame.

LENGTH 5.2 cm

Condition: Very good condition with old minuscule nicks to edges.
Provenance: French private collection.

A very unusual representation of this pair, who are usually depicted with a scroll and broom. This representation is very much in the Chinese and old Japanese style.