209 - DEME: A SUPERB WOOD MASK NETSUKE OF KARURA (GARUDA)

DEME: A SUPERB WOOD MASK NETSUKE OF KARURA (GARUDA) By a member of the Deme family, signed Deme 出目 saku 作 Japan, late 18 th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Published: Netsuke Kenkyukai (1991), vol. 11, no. 3, p. 56, fig. 25. Exhibited: Eskenazi Oriental Art, 19-24 September 1991, San Francisco International Netsuke Convention Boldly carved as the mask of Karura (Garuda), the powerful avian deity is characterized by a sharply curved beak with pierced nostrils, large staring eyes, strongly arched feather-like brows, and two pointed ears projecting from either side of the head. The reverse pierced with himotoshi through the central bar and signed DEME saku [made by Deme]. The well-toned wood bearing a fine, dark patina. HEIGHT 5.4 cm Provenance: With Eskenazi Ltd., September 1991. Graham Collection, New York, United States, acquired from the above. Condition: Excellent condition with only minor wear. The name Karura refers to the sacred bird Garuda that eats poisonous snakes and appears in ancient myths in India and Southeast Asia. For people in the southern regions, who were always exposed to the risks of poisonous snakes, etc., Garuda was a benefactor for their lives and thus it may be natural that it was deified. Garuda was adopted in Buddhism as one of the Buddhist Eight Deva Guardians. Its upward-swinging curved beak and keen eyes well represent the nature of these fearless birds that fly in southern harsh climates and defeat poisonous snakes. Museum comparison: Compare a related wood netsuke of a karasu tengu mask in the Tokyo National Museum, collection reference no. H-878. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related wood mask netsuke of a hornless dragon, by Deme Uman, 5 cm high, at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 16 April 2021, Vienna, lot 290 (sold for EUR 7,320).