MIBOKU: A VERY RARE MIXED METAL NETSUKE OF A NOH SHOJO DANCER
By Otsuryuken Miboku, signed Miboku
Japan, mid to late 19th century

Depicting a Noh actor as a Shojo dancer made from finely engraved shibuichi with a gilt face and gilt shoes. The mythological being with finely engraved long hair is notorious for her drunkenness. Here the actor mimics her drunken pose with a dancing posture, her robe with finely engraved details. Signed MIBOKU 味墨 in a rectangular silver inlaid cartouche on the underside.

HEIGHT 5.9 cm, LENGTH 4.8 cm, WIDTH 2.5 cm

Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and oxidation.
Provenance: European collection.

Otsuryuken Miboku of the important Hamano school was a metalworker and maker of sword fittings. When demand subsequently decreased during the latter half of the 19th century he started making netsuke, though mostly kagamibuta. Figural netsuke are extremely rare by this artist, and the present netsuke is exemplary of his superior workmanship in metal.