Seven lacquered and painted netsuke
Early to mid 19th century
The first of the heavenly being from the Noh play Hagoromo, wearing a feather cloak, the details painted in subdued pigments, signed Shuzan, 5cm (2in) high; the second a similarly painted figure of a man standing, holding an open fan, signed Shuzan, 5.1cm (2in) high; the third a small painted wood figure of the oil thief, signed Shuzan, 4.1cm (1 5/8in) high; the fourth a figure of Hotei standing, holding a large jewel, a small boy at his side, lacquered in Negoro style, unsigned, 5.5cm (2 1/8in) high; the fifth of a blind man, his coat lacquered in Negoro style, unsigned, 5cm (2in) high; the sixth of a red-lacquered oni (demon) seated, holding a tokkuri (sake flask) and a small cup, unsigned, 3.7cm (1½in) high; the seventh of a small tiger sprawling on a large section of bamboo, partly lacquered in Negoro style, unsigned, 5.3cm (2in) wide. (7).
