223 - Ɏ HOJITSU: A VERY FINE IVORY NETSUKE OF A NIO APPLYING MOXA

Ɏ HOJITSU: A VERY FINE IVORY NETSUKE OF A NIO APPLYING MOXA By Meikeisai Hojitsu, signed Hojitsu 法實 Japan, Edo (Tokyo), mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Finely carved as a muscular nio seated with one leg drawn up as he applies a moxa treatment to his knee. His superbly rendered expression, with tightly shut eyes, furrowed brows, and pursed lips, vividly conveys the discomfort of the procedure. The powerful body is sensitively modeled, the arms, legs, and chest covered with finely incised hair, while the neatly combed hair is gathered into a topknot. His loosely draped robes are decorated with scrolling clouds and geometric textile borders, the details heightened with dark sumi staining. The ivory is smoothly polished. Himotoshi to the back and signed HOJITSU within a rectangular reserve underneath. HEIGHT 3.5 cm Provenance: De-accessioned from the University Museum of Pennsylvania. Christie’s, Fine Netsuke form an Important American East Coast Museum, Part III, 5 July 1977, London, lot 98. Klefisch, 5 December 1992, Cologne, lot 657. From a noted French private collection, acquired from the above. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and very few, fine age cracks. Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number IT/CE/2024/MI/00308). This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.