Lot 302 Dα

A Tokyo schoo wood and ivory netsuke of a sleeping Hotei, by Hôshû. Late 19th century

The god has fallen into a slumber on his treasure bag, the hands placed on a stiff fan, the bag inlaid with small takaramono such as chôji, shippô and fundô in ivory and mother-of-pearl. Himotôshi lined with brown-stained horn. Signed Hôshû (Yoshihide) in raised characters on an inlaid ivory tablet and with a mother-of-pearl seal.
Height 2.8 cm; length 3.9 cm