HIDEYUKI: A RARE AND EXCELLENT WOOD NETSUKE OF THE FEMALE GHOST OKIKU
By Hideyuki, signed Hideyuki
Japan, Tokyo, 20th century

A large and powerfully carved wood netsuke depicting the female ghost Okiku emerging from and looming over a bucket, with finely carved long hair, large bony hands and a terrifying expression with large double inlaid eyes of pale and dark horn. The wood is finely stained and the small himotoshi are in the reverse. Artist's signature HIDEYUKI 秀之 on an inlaid gold tablet. With original tomobako (wood storage box) inscribed and sealed by the artist.

HEIGTH 8.1 cm

Condition: Excellent condition.
Provenance: Private Long Island Collection.

This netsuke relates to the ghost story of the 'Mansion of Plates' (Sara-yashiki). The maid Okiku had accidently broken a set of Korean plates and as a consequence her infuriated master bound her and threw her down a well, where she died and returned to haunt the living. In 1795, wells around Japan became infested with a species of worm covered in thin threads, which people believed to be a reincarnation of Okiku; the threads being the remnants of the fabric used to bind her. They named it “Okiku mushi” (the Okiku bug).