A SUPERB KURUMI (WALNUT) NETSUKE OF TO FUJIN BREASTFEEDING HER MOTHER-IN-LAW, ATTRIBUTED TO SEIMIN

A SUPERB KURUMI (WALNUT) NETSUKE OF TO FUJIN BREASTFEEDING HER MOTHER-IN-LAW, ATTRIBUTED TO SEIMIN
Attributed to Seimin, unsigned
Japan, Iwashiro, c. 1850, Edo period (1615-1868)
Well carved depicting To Fujin nursing her aged mother-in-law. She is richly adorned with jewelry inlaid in mixed metal and coral as well as billowing scarves, appearing like a Buddhist deity. The reverse with a karako. The netsuke intricately carved with a variety of textures, including basketweave, rope, gnarled trees, patterned robes, and smooth skin. Two symmetrical himotoshi to the reverse.
HEIGHT 3.8 cm
Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear.
Provenance:
Ex-collection Teddy Hahn, Darmstadt.
Literature comparison:
A related kurumi netsuke by Seimin, described as “The Dragon Queen nursing The Chinese Emperor Yao as a child” and dated c. 1830-1840, is illustrated in Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part B, p. 711.