SENSEI: A RARE WOOD NETSUKE OF RAIJIN AND OKAME IN A BATHTUB By Sensei, signed Sensei 花押 saku 作 Japan, Hida-Takayama, c. 1800, Edo period (1615-1868) Boldly and amusingly carved as Raijin, having descended to earth on a cloud, resisting the advances of Okame sitting in a tub, who is trying to drag him down to her, while he makes a gesture with his finger in his mouth akin to a fishhook, perhaps knowing that he will not be able to resist much longer. Large himotoshi underneath and signed within a rectangular reserve SENSEI saku [made by Sensei]. HEIGHT 4.3 cm Condition: Very good condition, appealingly worn. Fine, dark patina. Provenance: Ex-collection Teddy Hahn, Darmstadt. Literature comparison: A number of closely related wood netsuke by Suketada depicting this motif are recorded. See, for example, one illustrated in Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part B, p. 828; another illustrated in Lazarnick, George (1981) Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures, vol. 2, p. 1049; and a third illustrated in Joly, Henri L. (1966) The W. L. Behrens Collection, Part 1, Netsuke, pl. XIX, no. 621.