Beschreibung:

By Ohara Mitsusada, signed Mitsusada 光定 Japan, Osaka, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Carved from a choice piece of ivory, lightly stained and depicting the Zen patriarch Daruma standing with his hands clasped before him and enveloped in his voluminous robe, looking forward with a disgruntled expression. He is bald apart from the sparsely stippled and stained stubble above his huge ears. Himotoshi and signature MITSUSADA through the back. HEIGHT 4.3 cm Condition: Excellent condition, fine and barely noticeable age cracks. Provenance: Australian private collection (with a valid CITES import license). Ohara Mitsusada was one of the most accomplished students of Ohara Mitsuhiro (1810-1875). He used a similar stain, and his works are of comparative quality, however much rarer than those of the master. This is the only netsuke of Daruma recorded by Mitsusada. Auction comparison: For a similar netsuke by Ohara Mitsuhiro see Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, 15 May 2014, London, lot 27 (sold for 12,500 GBP).