Sandbanks Antiques has dated this Japanese Carved Wood Netsuke to the 19th Century.
Subject & Iconography
He is shown in a classic, joyful pose, cradling a large Tai (Sea Bream) in a woven basket. The sea bream is a symbol of celebration and "plenty" in Japanese culture.
Signature: The underside features a deeply incised two-character signature for Tomochika.
School: This style is characteristic of the famous Tomochika school of Edo/Tokyo, renowned for expressive character studies and high-quality detail during the 19th century.
Markings: There is an old ink-stamped inventory number "2" on the sole of the foot, suggesting a previous history in a private collection or gallery.
Craftsmanship & Condition
Details: The carving exhibits wonderful attention to detail, from the expressive facial features and traditional headwear to the textured scales of the fish and the weave of the basket.
Patina: The wood has a rich, dark honey-brown patina with natural wear on the high points, indicating decades of handling.
At 6.5 cm tall, it sits between a large functional netsuke and a small okimono (display piece). It features two himotoshi (cord holes) on the back, suggesting it was originally intended to be worn as a functional toggle.
Provenance The G S. May Esquire Private Collection, London - Brought Barcelona, Spain 1980
Sandbanks Antiques has dated this Japanese Carved Wood Netsuke to the 19th Century.
Specialising in antique silver, gold boxes, gold coins and objects de vertu. Rare fine-quality imperial chinese porcelain, jades, cloisonné
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Sandbanks Antiques Profile Page
Antique Japanese Meiji Period Wood Netsuke / Okimono of Ebisu with Tai Fish – Signed Tomochika
