An ivory netsuke of the mythical giant catfish (namazu). Late 19th century - image-1

Lot 124 Dα

An ivory netsuke of the mythical giant catfish (namazu). Late 19th century

Auction 1036 - overview Cologne
14.06.2014, 10:00 - The Kolodotschko Collection of Netsuke I
Estimate: 800 € - 1.200 €
Result: 1.464 € (incl. premium)
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An ivory netsuke of the mythical giant catfish (namazu). Late 19th century

The giant catfish (namazu) and three men, one pulling the fish by one of its whiskers, the second lying prostrate over the fish‘s back in order to keep him down and the third one crawling on the ground having been toppled over by the fish’s wagging tail.
Length 6.6 cm

Pictures of catfish (namazu-e) were very popular in the late Edo and early Meiji period. The first pictures were created shortly after the Great Ansei Earthquake in November 1855 and continued well into the Meiji period.

Provenance

Christie´s, South Kensington, 12.5.2010