A rare and interesting wood netsuke of an oni with a reliquary, by Awataguchi. First half 19th centuWearing a tiger skin loincloth and breeches, the muscular oni holds the reliquary with a loose ball inside which he has stolen from Idaten, the oni’s face with a fierce expression. Eye pupils inlaid. Signed Awataguchi. Awataguchi, also the name of a place in Kyoto, is a rarely seen signature. Height 2.8 cmProvenienzPurchased from J. van Daalen, Utrecht, April 1970Coll. no. 791 (printed and handwritten)A rare and interesting wood netsuke of an oni with a reliquary, by Awataguchi. First half 19th centuWearing a tiger skin loincloth and breeches, the muscular oni holds the reliquary with a loose ball inside which he has stolen from Idaten, the oni’s face with a fierce expression. Eye pupils inlaid. Signed Awataguchi. Height 2.8 cm