A fine Kyoto school ivory netsuke of a baku. Late 18th century - image-1

Lot 163 Dα

A fine Kyoto school ivory netsuke of a baku. Late 18th century

Auction 1036 - overview Cologne
14.06.2014, 10:00 - The Kolodotschko Collection of Netsuke I
Estimate: 3.500 € - 4.000 €
Result: 9.150 € (incl. premium)
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A fine Kyoto school ivory netsuke of a baku. Late 18th century

Seated on its haunches, the neck twisted, the head with a raised and curled up trunk, the beard merging with the raised tail above the back, the mouth open with two large tusks, the forepaws grabbing a branch. The eye pupils of black horn.
Height 6.9 cm

In Japan the baku is associated with the nandina shrub (nanten), so the branch in this representation might be that of a nandina. The Japanese term nanten also means ”to remove difficulties”. As the baku is believed to eat bad dreams, it might also according to popular belief, suck up difficulties.