KOMIN: A RARE WOOD NETSUKE OF A DEMON MASK INSIDE SURIBACHI By Komin, signed Komin 光珉 with seal
Japan, Edo/Tokyo, late 19th century

Finely carved from two types of wood as a suribachi (mortar) inlaid with a two-horned demon mask with a tama (magical jewel) on the forehead. The ridged inside of the suribachi is well-carved. A little inlaid silver clasp ‘repairs’ a simulated crack near the rim on the mortar. Asymmetrical himotoshi underneath.

The exterior with a lengthy circumferential inscription: “Yamato no kuni Anjyoji zo Ennogyojya no tsukuru tokoro no utsushi” [a facsimile of a work by Ennogyojya of Anjo Temple in the province of Yamato].

DIAMETER 4.1 cm

Condition: Very good condition, minor associated surface wear.
Provenance: European collection.

Literature comparison:
A similar wood netsuke by Komin, without the mortar, is illustrated in Arakawa, Hirokazu (1983) The Go Collection of Netsuke. Tokyo National Museum, p. 16, no. 12. Another similar netsuke in horn is illustrated in Meinertzhagen / Lazarnick (1986) MCI, Part A, p. 381.