Japan Wood Wooden netsuke depicting a karako with a...

Charming Japanese wooden netsuke representing a karako with a mallet, second half of the 19th century, end Edo - beginning Meiji. The young Chinese boy is depicted standing, with a broadly smiling face, a shaved head animated by the two small lateral tufts characteristic of the karako. He carries a mallet on his right shoulder while his left hand rests on an imposing ovoid object placed in front of him. This large volume, traversed by several incisions suggesting cracks, has traditionally been interpreted as a giant egg. This reading remains plausible, although the exact identification of the object cannot be considered absolutely certain. The sculpture is especially appealing for its compact, rounded construction, its play of volumes, and its beautiful honey-brown patina, darker in the recesses. The work is carefully finished on all faces and even underneath the piece, where there are two himotoshi of unequal diameter, perfectly integrated into the composition. The netsuke is unsigned. The wood, dense with a fine grain, is compatible with Japanese boxwood (tsuge), frequently used for netsuke, though a botanical identification cannot be claimed without material analysis. The Met documents precisely the frequent use of boxwood and the functional role of himotoshi in Japanese netsuke. Very good overall condition, with a few fine signs of wear and scratches consistent with age. No significant breaks or obvious modern restorations are visible. Provenance: private Belgian collection, acquired between the 1960s and 1980s; then acquired at a sale room on November 3, 2018. video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/qvzhj8caorpwcohljh4lq/AAtYq1XtOOrkm6DJTCV11cY?rlkey=q1ltekducztem9pwb0cl1gtz4&dl=0

Estimation:€1,000

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