made in Japan
This ivory netsuke is of a travelling showman with a mask of a tengu or woodsprite on his back. A netsuke is used to fasten an inro, a lacquered container, which hung from the sash of a man's kimono. They became miniature art forms in their own right.
This netsuke depicts a travelling showman who has a mask of tengu or woodsprite on his back. He is carrying a conch shell, which he used to attract an audience, and a staff. The himetoshi, holes for passing the cord through are both found below the mask.
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