Netsuke in the form of a hybrid creature

Netsuke in the form of a hybrid creature is held by Badisches Landesmuseum Karlsruhe. Museum description: The ivory netsuke is carved in the shape of a fox. The animal presents itself in human form, standing and draped in a long robe with wide sleeves. On its tilted head it wears a »zukin« cowl. This attire is typical of monks of the Buddhist Tendai school. The fox disguised as a priest, folding his hands upon a staff, is the priest Hakuzōsu [Hyakuzôsu]. He is the main character in the Kyōgen play »The Fox Trap« (»Tsurigitsune«). Kyōgen is a form of traditional Japanese theatre and usually constitutes a humorous interlude between the acts of Noh theatre. Like all pieces carved completely in the round, this example belongs to the type of so-called »katabori-netsuke«. A »netsuke« (pronounced: netske) is a toggle with two holes for cord routing. It was used as a counterbalance to a so-called »inr The museum record gives measurements height: 4.4 cm, width: 2.05 cm, depth: 2.1 cm. These details come from the holding museum's own record; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.