A RARE NEGORO LACQUERED WOOD NETSUKE OF RYUJIN’S ATTENDANT Unsigned Japan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Published: Östasiatiska Museet (1999) Netsuke, p. 49. Zacke (1990) Japanische Netsuke und Okimono, Sagemono, no. 54. Exhibited: Östasiatiska Museet, Sweden, Stockholm, 16 October 1999 – 9 January 2000. The very light wood (probably hinoki wood) is expressively carved and lacquered in negoro-nuri, depicting one of the two attendants of the dragon king of the sea, Ryujin. The attendant is shown with a large, expressively carved face, his arms are crossed in the front, and he wears a loincloth and another cloth over his shoulders. His rib cage is expressed very well. The surface is applied with gold lacquer accents. In the back is a scaly slender dragon, its head resting on the attendant’s head. Himotoshi between the tail of the dragon. HEIGHT 10.3 cm Condition: Excellent condition with minor expected wear to lacquer Provenance: Ex collection Mrs. Gunvor Bjorkman, purchased at Galerie Zacke in 1990.