SHOOSAI: A WOOD OKIMONO OF AN EGG TESTER By Shoosai, signed Shoosai
Japan, 19^th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

The egg tester standing in a typical pose with one hand lowered to his side and the other holding an egg and raised to his eye, the other eye closed as he inspects the produce, his face well detailed with dense wrinkles and the mouth contorted, his long hair elegantly falling in curls over the shoulders, the bare chest with slightly sagging breasts and emaciated rib cage. Signed underneath on one foot in seal script SHOOSAI.

Shoosai 松翁斎 literally means “Pine- an old man- a studio”; Nonoguchi Ryuho (1599-1669) used the art name Shoo 松翁. This okimono was possibly carved as a homage to the this master, who was mentioned in the Soken Kisho (the first publication on netsuke published in 1781).

HEIGHT 14.8 cm

Condition: One arm and both feet partly re-attached, otherwise in good condition with minor wear and few small nicks.
Provenance: From a northern German private collection, acquired before 2007.