19c netsuke MAN TYING loincloth FUNDOSHI ex Greenfield

Description

19th century boxwood netsuke of a man (a peasant or a porter on the Tokkaido road) tying his fundoshi (loincloth) holding the end beneath his chin, his face contorted in agony at having pinched himself in a delicate spot. Not a very common subject, excellent clean carving with extraordinary detailed face indicating his age and hard life with wrinkles and missing teeth, wonderful depiction of his ribs and muscles. Netsuke is well balanced (stands on its own), beautiful light staining, great patina. Excellent sculpture. Comes from the Charles Greenfield Collection - see Sotheby’s New York sale of September 18, 1998, lot 84. Excellent sculpture, and great netsuke. Height 2 11/16 inches.