142 - A FINE WOOD SHUNGA NETSUKE OF OKAME WITH A MISO PESTLE, ATTRIBUTED TO SHUMIN

A FINE WOOD SHUNGA NETSUKE OF OKAME WITH A MISO PESTLE, ATTRIBUTED TO SHUMIN Attributed to Hara Shumin, unsigned Japan, Edo (Tokyo), mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Finely and amusingly carved as Okame seated, grasping an oversized miso pestle with one hand while covering her mouth with the other as she giggles, the implement rising prominently beside her body. Her rounded face is animated by a knowing smile, the long hair loosely knotted and falling over her shoulders, while the voluminous robes are arranged in deeply carved, flowing folds. Natural himotoshi, one aperture ingeniously incorporated into an opening in her garments underneath. HEIGHT 3.5 cm Provenance: From a noted German private collection, Munich, Germany. Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related wood netsuke of okame with a pestle by the same artist, signed Shumin, 3.6 cm high, illustrated in Jirka-Schmitz, Patrizia, The World of Netsuke – The Werdelmann Collection at the Museum Kunstpalast Düsseldorf, no. 211.