Japanese Meiji period carved wood Karakuri (trick) netsuke of a Sambaso dancer's head by Hokyo

This Japanese karakuri or trick netsuke, dating to the late 19th century Meiji period, is an ingeniously carved wooden representation of a smiling Sambaso dancer’s head.

The dancer wears a tall, pointed eboshi hat, which features a dark, deeply grooved surface with regular horizontal bands. The reddish-brown face is characterized by expressive, boldly curling brows, broad cheeks, flaring nostrils, and an open mouth displaying carefully delineated teeth. A unique feature of this piece is its mechanical functionality: the large eyes, inlaid in pale horn with dark pupils, are integrated into a karakuri mechanism operated by a small lever on the reverse.

When manipulated, this lever simultaneously animates the eyes and causes the tongue to protrude from the mouth. The piece includes a himotoshi on the back and is signed by the carver, Hokyo. Standing at a height of 6 cm, this intricate netsuke showcases both technical skill and playful artistry, reflecting a tradition of mechanical carving in Japanese miniature sculpture.