Description MIWA: A WOOD NETSUKE OF A BLIND MASSEUR AND CLIENTBy a member of the Miwa school, signed Miwa三輪Japan, Edo (Tokyo), first half of 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Finely carved as a blind man massaging a client. The blind man's face turned to the right with a strenuous expression and with a bump on his head. His client smiling, seemingly satisfied with the service. Asymmetrical himotoshi underneath, ringed in stained bone, and signed MIWA. Fine patina.LENGTH 3.7 cm, HEIGHT 3.1 cmCondition: Very good condition, minor wear.Provenance: Formerly the property of the Strong Museum, donated by Margaret Woodbury Strong (1897-1969), a prolific collector and founder and namesake of the museum. With accession no. '78.9794' lacquered underneath.Literature comparison:Compare a closely related wood netsuke of a blind masseur and client by Miwa, early 19th century, illustrated in Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part A, p. 561.Auction comparison:Compare a related wood netsuke of a man applying moxa, attributed to Miwa, late 18th-early 19th century, at Bonhams, Fine Netsuke from a French Private Collection, 4 November 2020, London, lot 36 (sold for 1,785 GBP).