A wood netsuke of the ghost of a woman


19th centuryInscribed Okatomo. 7.9cm (3 1/8in) high.
|木彫根付　幽霊と鬼　銘「岡友」　19世紀Published: Katchen, N7, vol.1, p.105, no.K787.The emaciated apparition rising from a cloud of vapour and rearing over a small terrified oni, expressively rendered in lightly stained wood.The carving almost certainly dates from the first half of the 19th century, although the 'signature' was added later.