A Tokyo school wood netsuke referring to the kitsune-ken game, by Zemin. Late 19th century - image-1

Lot 1197 Dα

A Tokyo school wood netsuke referring to the kitsune-ken game, by Zemin. Late 19th century

Auktion 1053 - Übersicht Köln
05.06.2015, 14:00 - Japanische Kunst - Netsuke, Okimono, Lack und Sagemono, Schwertschmuck
Schätzpreis: 500 € - 700 €
Ergebnis: 806 € (inkl. Aufgeld)

A Tokyo school wood netsuke referring to the kitsune-ken game, by Zemin. Late 19th century

A hunter with his typical headdress squats to hold together the legs of a captured fox lying on its back, while an honourable man with a fan assists by holding a rope. Signed Zemin.
Height 3.3 cm

The traditional and popular game called kitsune-ken (fox-fist) is similar to rock, paper, scissors, but in Japan the three hand positions signify a fox, a hunter, and a village headman. The headman beats the hunter, whom he outranks; the hunter beats the fox, which he shoots; the fox beats the headman, whom he bewitches.