A POWERFUL TALL STAG ANTLER NETSUKE OF CHINNAN SENNIN, ATTRIBUTED TO TOMOHISAAttributed to Tomohisa, unsignedJapan, Kyoto, mid-18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Powerfully carved, the sennin standing tall and holding an alms bowl in one hand, from which a small sinuous dragon emerges, and a gnarled staff in the other, wearing a long robe with deeply carved folds as well as an artemisia leaf skirt and apron with neatly incised veins. His face with a grim expression, the mouth slightly open, the eyes with pierced pupils, the hair and long chin beard carved in thick strands. The back with asymmetrical himotoshi. Beautiful, deep caramel-brown patina.HEIGHT 10.2 cmCondition: Good condition, minor wear, natural imperfections, the feet restored.The present lot is attributed to Tomohisa, who belongs to an important group of 18th-century figure carvers, which also includes Mototada. About this group, Jay Hopkins writes, “Working in staghorn, they primarily produced large figures ranging from 3 to 6 inches in height. Subject matter usually involved Chinese legends, including Shoki, sennin, Kann’u, guardians and entertainers. They effectively used black horn to inlay eye pupils, buttons and other details – perhaps the earliest cavers to use this technique.” See Sydney L. Moss Ltd. (2016) Kokusai The Genius: and Stag-antler Carving in Japan, vol. I, p. 30.Literature comparison: Compare a closely related stag antler netsuke of Chinnan Sennin with a dragon by Tomohisa, illustrated in Barry Davies Oriental Art (2001) Selected Netsuke and Inro for exhibition at the International Netsuke Society Convention Boston, p. 3. Compare a related stag antler netsuke of Handaka Sonja with a dragon by Tomohisa, illustrated in Sydney L. Moss Ltd. (2016) Kokusai The Genius: and Stag-antler Carving in Japan, vol. I, p. 200-201, no. 55.