Description A WOOD NETSUKE OF A SLEEPING CAT ON A LEAF FANUnsignedJapan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)The cat (neko) is considerably rare in netsuke art. Here it is depicted sleeping serenely, its head and front paws rested on a leaf fan (uchiwa), wearing a collar, the long tail curls around over its body. The hairwork is finely incised and appropriately worn. The underside with generously excavated himotoshi, formed by one smaller and one larger oval holeLENGTH 5 cmCondition: Good condition, minor wear, the handle of the fan repaired.Provenance: German private collection.The motif of a sleeping cat (nemuri neko) was first depicted in Japan in the 17th century by the sculptor Hidari Jingoro in Nikko in the architectural decoration of the corridor (kairo) that starts from the Yomei gate. Cats were imported from China in the Heian period (794-1185) and initially served the ladies at court for entertainment. Over the course of the centuries, they became domesticated. In popular belief the cat played only a minor role. However, there are some legends with cats that turn into people, or they are the subject of proverbs.Museum comparison:Compare a closely related boxwood netsuke of a sleeping cat on a fan, early 19th century, in the Linden-Museum, Stuttgart, inventory number OA 19064.