ALEXANDER DERKACHENKO: A WOOD NETSUKE OF A HAKUTAKU

ALEXANDER DERKACHENKO: A WOOD NETSUKE OF A HAKUTAKU
By Alexander Derkachenko, signed with the artist's mark
Ukraine, 2023
Finely carved as a hakutaku in a recumbent pose atop a mat, one hoof placed on a tama pearl carved from carnelian agate, the beast with the face of an elderly man with a cheerful expression marked by narrowed eyes, the mouth agape, the large earlobes reminiscent of a lucky god, the long beard and shaggy fur neatly incised, the horns inlaid with mammoth tusk, the large eye on its forehead and three additional eyes to the back double-inlaid with translucent and dark horn. The underside with two asymmetrical himotoshi and the artist's signature incised within a rectangular reserve.
LENGTH 5 cm
Condition: Excellent condition.
With an original mahogany storage box signed by the artist.
The hakutaku
is a mythical beast of ancient Chinese origin (where it is known as bai ze) that is only rarely depicted in netsuke art. The common Japanese image generally depicts the hakutaku as a monstrous creature with nine eyes and six horns, arranged in sets of three and two on both its flanks and its man-like face. It is also commonly depicted as having the body of a lion and eight eyes, known for having a horn or multiple horns on their heads. However, the number of extra eyes actually varies depending on interpretation, and sometimes the creature is pictured with only one in the center of its head. It is considered to be intelligent, and well-read with the ability to understand human speech.
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