An ivory netsuke of Ono no tofu. Late 19th century - image-1
An ivory netsuke of Ono no tofu. Late 19th century - image-2
An ivory netsuke of Ono no tofu. Late 19th century - image-3
An ivory netsuke of Ono no tofu. Late 19th century - image-4
An ivory netsuke of Ono no tofu. Late 19th century - image-1An ivory netsuke of Ono no tofu. Late 19th century - image-2An ivory netsuke of Ono no tofu. Late 19th century - image-3An ivory netsuke of Ono no tofu. Late 19th century - image-4

Lot 476 D‡α

An ivory netsuke of Ono no tofu. Late 19th century

Auction 1157 - overview Cologne
27.06.2020, 11:00 - Asian Art
Estimate: 700 € - 800 €
Result: 10.000 € (incl. premium)
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An ivory netsuke of Ono no tofu. Late 19th century

In a belted kimono, wide harem trousers and wearing geta, an umbrella in his right hand. A tiny frog to his left. Finely carved and engraved, details darkly accentuated. Signed Anraku.
Height 5.5 cm

In despair after trying seven times to rise to a higher position at the imperial court the calligrapher Ono no Tofu (Ono no Michikaze, 894-964) takes a walk alongside a river. There he spots a frog trying to reach the sloping branch of a willow. Despite seven unsuccessful attempts the frog perseveres and succeeds on the eighth leap. Just as Ono no Tofu who regains courage and applies once again to the emperor being finally appointed minister.

Provenance

Estate of Albert Brockhaus (1855 – 1921), acquired at James Tregaskis, London, 23.2.1904

Literature

Brockhaus, p. 392, no. 1056