Hirotada wood and ivory netsuke
late 19th century
street performers with monkey
1 5/8 by 1 3/4 in., 4 by 4.5 cm
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an entertainer wearing a dark sambaso eboshi (monkey trainer's hat) holds a rattle aloft as he chants, beside him is a kneeling trainer using an ivory switch stained green to direct a dancing monkey holding folded paper ornaments thrown over his shoulders; the figures are very well carved from a section of mottled colored hardwood to utilize the color variations- the standing figure's robes are nearly black while the seated figure's are lighter, their costumes are decorated with touches of red lacquer and carved and inlaid mother-of-pearl and stained ivory, their faces, hands and feet are ivory; signed on the underside on an inlaid mother-of-pearl plaque, Hirotada wtih kao
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Sarumawashi (monkey trainers) typically would wear the distinctive lacquer conical hat associated with the Sambaso dance, derived from the Noh play, Okina, which is traditionally associated with New Year's activities.
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$3,500
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another view and signature
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