By Hokyudo Masayoshi, signed Hokyudo Masayoshi toJapan, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Intricately and powerfully carved, the Zen patriarch standing atop an elaborate openworked base of crashing waves as he crosses the Yangtze River on a single reed, his finely rendered face showing a grim expression, resolute with purpose, marked by large eyes inlaid with translucent horn below furrowed brows, his long flowing robe cascading in voluminous folds, his shrouded hands holding a hossu (flywhisk). The underside with a rectangular tablet signed HOKYUDO MASAYOSHI to [carved by Hokyudo Masayoshi].HEIGHT 20.8 cmCondition: Good condition with age cracks, many of them repaired.Provenance: From a private collection in Florida, USA.Chomei Masayoshi (1802-1848) was born in Takada, Echigo province (modern Niigata prefecture), northern Japan and his given name was Yaokichi Ishikura. From an early age Masayoshi excelled at carving many types of objects including netsuke and was particularly well known for his carvings of Shishi.Auction comparison:Compare a closely related but slightly larger wood okimono depicting a standing Daruma, signed [H]Okyudo Masayoshi to and carved in a similar manner, at Christie’s, Japanese and Korean Art, 18 April 2018, New York, lot 89 (sold for 7,500 USD).5% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer’s premium – only for buyers within the EU.