AN IMPORTANT WOOD SHUNGA NETSUKE OF A CHINESE LADY WITH SHISHI CENSER ATTRIBUTED TO KANJURO
Unsigned, attributed to Kanjuro
Japan, Osaka, mid to late 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

A tall wood netsuke of Chinese lady with inlaid hands and a sensitively crafted inlaid face with her hair neatly tied into a top knot, the details lacquered in black. The ornately crafted robe is made from wood with powerfully accentuated garment folds, finely incised cloud designs and a neat floral collar. In front of her she holds a censer with a snarling Buddhist lion, or Shishi, carved on top. Externally, this is already a fine and powerful netsuke, however internally there is a surprise which lifts this netsuke to a new level - an ingenious hidden mechanism, way ahead of its time! The bottom section is removable, revealing her naked body. The long thin legs are carved from a different material, appearing very sensitive. Her genitals are revealed when tilting the netsuke. The lady would be completely enveloped in her robe when worn outside in public, only her inlaid features would give a subtle clue to the ambiguity of the design. Inside, perhaps after a good round of sake, the hidden interior could be revealed. Large himotoshi through the back, one of them through the naked body.

HEIGHT 10.5 cm

Condition: Very good, complete condition. The mechanism is fully functional. A bolt which had been put into place to hide the inner mechanism has been removed. Some minor wear to the lacquered details.
Provenance: The Gabor Wilhelm Collection.

Kanjuro (MCI page 307) specialized and probably originated the method of carving figures in wood with hands and feet in a different material - the extension of that being a hidden interior carved from a different material, perfectly lending to the idea of shunga netsuke, which emerged from the increased popularity of shunga designs in woodblock prints. Kanjuro is one of the few names mentioned in the Soken Kisho and is only known by his real name, therefore it is assumed he never signed his netsuke. Netsuke attributed to Kanjuro are extremely rare, and the artist was clearly ahead of his time, making this netsuke an important artefact. Literature comparison: Compare to a netsuke of Seiobo with the same hidden mechanism and attributed to Kanjuro, sold by Zacke, Netsuke und Inro aus Japan - Austellung 1985, Vienna, no. 35. Another similar netsuke, this time with the same depiction, is illustrated in the journal of the International Netsuke Collector's Society, volume 3, no. 1, page 9.