271 - AN UNUSUAL WOOD SEAL-TYPE (INGYO) NETSUKE OF AN ARCHAISTIC CHINESE DOG

AN UNUSUAL WOOD SEAL-TYPE (INGYO) NETSUKE OF AN ARCHAISTIC CHINESE DOG Unsigned Japan, 18 th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Of seal-type, unusually carved in elongated form as a highly stylized Chinese dog, the sinuous body gently arched and terminating in a broad, flattened muzzle. The beast is powerfully rendered with a large circular eye centered by a gilt-metal pupil, small rounded ears, and incised scrolls extending across the head and body, the sweeping contours lending the composition a distinctly archaistic character. Himotoshi to the top. The oval seal face carved in relief with the character Ko [light]. LENGTH 6.5 cm Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear and remnants of pigments. The present example evokes the formal language of archaic Chinese jade and bronze, rather than the more naturalistic treatment ordinarily encountered in Japanese netsuke. Its sweeping scrollwork particularly recall the highly abstracted zoomorphic forms of early Chinese jade carving. The present carver appears to have ingeniously adapted Chinese archaistic ornament into a functional Japanese ingyo netsuke.