Ivory okimono style netsuke of the Tongue-Cut Sparrow by Masayoshi
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Meiji period (1868-1912)
This Japanese ivory okimono-style netsuke, crafted during the Meiji period (1868-1912), depicts a narrative scene from the well-known folktale Shitakiri Suzume, or 'The Tongue-Cut Sparrow.' The carving shows a kindly old man seated and holding a large, open fan.
He is surrounded by two sparrow attendants, rendered in human dress, one of whom stands while holding a tray, and the other kneels with an offering. The composition is completed by small boxes and various implements. The craftsmanship features finely incised floral motifs on the old man's robes, with further attention to detail in the garments, facial features, and hair of the figures, which are stained for tonal contrast.
Measuring 5 cm in length, the piece includes natural himtoshi for cord passage and is signed by the artist, Masayoshi (正義), on the underside. This object reflects the artistic traditions of Tokyo-based carvers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, illustrating a classic Japanese moral tale through highly detailed organic material manipulation.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Length
- 5 cm
- Material
- ivory
Technical characteristics
- Signed
- Masayoshi (正義)
- Feature
- natural himtoshi
Design
- Motif
- old man and sparrow attendants
- Subject
- The Tongue-Cut Sparrow (Shitakiri Suzume)
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
- Maker named in listing
- Masayoshi
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.