Netsuke of quails on millet, carved and stained ivory, signed Okatori, ca. 1775 - 1825
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca. 1775-1825
This carved and stained ivory netsuke is in the form of quails on millet, the two birds stand side by side on two ears of the grain. Netsuke had to be small and not too heavy, yet bulky enough to do the job.
They needed to be compact with no sharp protruding edges, yet also strong and hardwearing. This example is signed ‘Okatori’, a carver who was active in Kyoto during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Okatori was the younger brother of Okatomo, a pupil of Izumiya Tomotada, one of the three great netsuke carvers active during the late 18th century who established Kyoto as one of the main centres of netsuke production.
Okatomo is widely associated with netsuke of bird subjects, especially quail and millet.
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
- Dimensions
- Height 2.9 cm
- Materials and techniques
- Carved and stained ivory
Technical characteristics
- Place recorded
- Japan
Identification
- Candidate id
- vam-O17121
- Museum object number
- A.975-1910
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked single-object source. Wider type attribution and authenticity have not been independently verified.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type and source attribution against specialist references.