Japanese carved ivory netsuke of a fox mask dancer and child by Masatami (Shomin)
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Second Half of the 19th Century
This Japanese netsuke is a finely detailed ivory carving dating to the second half of the 19th century. The subject depicts a dancer wearing a fox mask, holding a folding fan, and accompanied by a small child.
The composition also includes a drum and a dragon mask as supporting elements. The object is carved from ivory, exhibiting a natural patina that is slightly darker on the reverse side. The surface is intricately worked, featuring decorative detailing on the figures' garments, such as geometric and floral patterns. The netsuke is signed by the artist Masatami, also known as Shomin, with the signature found within an oval reserve on the bottom of the piece.
The carving stands at a height of approximately 1.5 inches. As an antique ivory object, this netsuke represents traditional Japanese craftsmanship designed for use as a functional toggle to secure personal items worn suspended from an obi sash.
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
- Height
- 1.5 inches
- Material
- ivory
Design
- Marks
- Signed in an oval reserve on the bottom
- Subject
- Fox mask dancer with child, drum, and dragon mask
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
- Masatami (Shomin)
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.