Lot 251: A Bamboo Sashi Netsuke

A Bamboo Sashi Netsuke Edo period (19th century), signed Morikawa Toen (1820-1894) saku The sashi netsuke carved as a temple guardian dog seated on a pedestal carved in low relief with floral design stained dark reddish-brown, the reverse with inscription Daibutsu furumon komainu Morikawa Toen saku Okamasu Nori kei kore o konomu and another illegible inscription 6in. 15.3cm.) high

PUBLISHED: George Lazarnick, Netsuke and Inro Artists, and How To Read Their Signatures, vol. II (Honolulu: Reed Publishers, 1981), p. 1096 Morikawa Toen worked as a sculptor and a painter at the Kasuga Shrine in Nara. His work caught the eye of the magistrate of Nara and later the Imperial household, whose patronge he enjoyed. He was known later in life for his Nara ningyo and copies of ancient sculpture.