Description SEIHO: A FINE STAINED BOXWOOD NETSUKE OF A KEMARI PLAYERBy Seiho Azuma (1936-2003), signed Seiho 声方Japan, Ibaraki prefecture, 20th centuryFinely carved standing in a dynamic posture, wearing an eboshi hat, slightly bend forward, the face with an amusing expression, as the kemari player loses sight of the ball. Himotoshi through the back, signed underneath the left foot SEIHO.HEIGHT 5.8 cmCondition: Excellent condition, minor wear.Provenance: Collection Gabor Orszagh, Budapest, Hungary, acquired from Michael Strone.Seiho, born as Katsuo Azuma in 1936 in the Ibaraki prefecture, he studied carving under the famous Hose Maguro until he turned 22. Seiho is well known for his legendary and mythological figures, animals, and religious subjects. He is a member of the International Netsuke Carvers Association and has received several awards from the Ueno Royal Museum and the Japan Art Association.Kemari, a popular athletic game during the Heian period (794-1185), is one of the earliest versions of football and it is a non-competitive game where the goal is to keep the ball in the air.