TOMOHISA: A LARGE WOOD NETSUKE OF A SKULL WITH HOSSUBy Tomohisa, signed Tomohisa 友久Japan, Edo (Tokyo), second half of 19th centuryThe okimono style netsuke finely carved as a realistically rendered skull, the details anatomically precise, including large, cavernous eye sockets and with neatly incised parietal lines to the cranium. The underside shows beautifully carved hossu, the inlaid bone teeth, the large singular himotoshi, and the neatly incised signature TOMOHISA – a pupil of the Tomochika school of Edo (Tokyo).SIZE 5.8 X 4.3 X 4.5 cm (L x H x W)Condition: One repaired crack to the side. Otherwise excellent condition with minor wear.The fly whisk (hossu) belongs to the paraphernalia of a Buddhist monk, especially those of the Zen sect. The combination of skull and hossu might be an allusion to the Zen priest Ikkyu (1394-1481) who according to legend wandered around on New Year’s Day with a skull mounted on a stick as a reminder of the ephemeral nature of human life and the significance of the Buddhist teachings.Auction comparison:Compare to a closely related wood netsuke by Tomochika at Zacke, Fine Japanese Art, 27 May 2022, Vienna, lot 263 (sold for 3,648 EUR).