Netsuke, ivory. Japan, 18th cent.
Rare, early and outstanding sculptural work depicting the immortal and imperial adviser Tobosaku (in China, Dong Fangsuo) in a tall-slim figural netsuke rendition. Tobosaku acted in the court of the emperor Wudi (2nd cent. BC) of the Western Han-Dynasty and prophesised the arrival of the prominent “Queen Mother of the West†Xiwangmu (in Japan, Seiobo), whose garden in the Kunlun-mountains sees the peaches of immortality bloom every 3000 years. Indeed, she actually came and brought with her the peaches for the emperor. Tobosaku, however, ingeniously managed to make away with some for himself, ate them, and consequently became immortal (and also the adviser of other emperors, centuries later…). Tobosaku is stroking his beard, holding peaches in his hand and is accompanied by a small stag (symbol of longevity) standing by his feet. On the back, very nice age-patina and expressive himotoshi.
HEIGHT 10,5 CM
From a German private collection