MASANAO: A RARE WOOD NETSUKE DEPICTING THE TRANSFORMATION OF URASHIMA TARO

MASANAO: A RARE WOOD NETSUKE DEPICTING THE TRANSFORMATION OF URASHIMA TARO


By a member of the Masanao family, signed Masanao 正直
Japan, Yamada, Ise province, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

Finely carved, the seated fisherman lifting the lid of the treasure box (tametebako) gifted to him by the Dragon King, his face bearing a bewildered expression as he is transformed into an elderly man. A wisp of smoke issuing from the box which held the 300 years he spent in the underwater palace. His brows are wrinkled, and his mouth is opened exposing finely incised teeth. The himotoshi naturally formed by the gap between the box and Urashima’s leg. Signed to the underside of the box MASANAO.

LENGTH 3.9 cm

Condition: Good condition with minor expected wear. An old repair to one hand.
Provenance: Collection Gabor Orszagh, Budapest, Hungary.

According to legend, Urashima Taro saved a little minogame (straw-raincoat turtle) from an ill fate, which subsequently turned out to be the daughter of the dragon king. The next day a giant turtle appeared and brought Urashima to the underwater palace of the dragon god. Urashima stayed there for a few days and received a box and was told not to open it. When he returned, everyone he knew was gone and everything had changed, so in his bewilderment he opened the box and suddenly turned into an old man. He then heard a whisper from the sea telling him he was told not to open the box, in it was his old age…