242 - A FINE AND RARE BONE NETSUKE OF A MANZAI DRUMMER

A FINE AND RARE BONE NETSUKE OF A MANZAI DRUMMER Unsigned Japan, late 18 th to early 19 th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Finely carved from a choice section of beautifully porous bone, possibly baculum, as the drummer of a traditional manzai performing duo caught in the midst of an animated performance. He holds a cylindrical drum to one side while throwing back his head, his mouth opened wide in song to reveal a neatly carved row of teeth. The lively face is sensitively modeled with narrowed eyes, rounded cheeks, and deeply delineated features, superbly conveying the exuberant and comic spirit of the performance. He wears voluminous robes falling in deeply carved folds and embellished with pine motifs, together with a long cloth cap trailing down his back. The carver has skillfully exploited the natural mottling and porous texture of the material, particularly across the head, to enrich the surface and lend the figure further character. Good himotoshi to the back. HEIGHT 5 cm Condition: Excellent condition with typical natural imperfections to the material. Manzai is a traditional style of comedy in Japanese culture involving two performers, one being a ‘straight’ man (tsukkomi) and a ‘funny’ man (boke). Originally performed as part of New Year festivities, references to manzai performers appear as early as the Heian period, and the lively performances remained a familiar element of popular entertainment for centuries. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related antler netsuke of a sumo wrestler, unsigned and likely by the same hand, 5.1 cm high, at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 25 September 2020, Vienna, lot 44 (sold for EUR 4,803 or approx. EUR 6,500 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).