Lot 235 Dα

An umimatsu netsuke of a catfish. 19th century

The earthquake's fish (namazu) with a slight swing of the tail fin, entirely carved from umimatsu, the eyes double inlaid. The larger himôtoshi in shape of a gourd. Possibly an allusion to the god Kadori, who keeps the earthquake catfish under control with the help of such a gourd.
Height 1.8 cm; length 10.7 cm