A WOOD NETSUKE OF AN OX HERDER BY MASASHIGEWood netsukeJapan, Ise-Yamada, Edo period (1615-1868), 19th centuryThis karako (Chinese boy) has the characteristic side tufts, inlaid in horn, on his shaved head and is holding a flute in one hand. The boy is leaning on a recumbent ox. This scene has a hidden meaning, as it originates from the Ten Bulls or Ten Ox Herding Pictures, a series of poems and drawings in the Zen tradition describing the different stages of one’s progress toward enlightenment. The ushidoji (ox-boy) is playing his flute, which represents the sixth out of ten stages to enlightenment. The content facial features are very finely carved, while the ox’ fur pattern is very precise. The ox also has a nose ring with a rope attached to it. Himotoshi on the underside between the delicately executed ox legs and signed MASASHIGE on one of the hind legs.Dimensions: WIDTH 4.1 CMCondition: Good, complete condition; one tiny dent to the side of the face of the boyProvenance: British private collection