c.1890 JAPANESE MEIJI PERIOD HAND-CARVED BONE NETSUKE OF A ROBED MALE FIGURE

• A rare circa 1890 (Meiji Period) hand-carved bone netsuke sculpture of a robed elderly man holding a staff and a weaved basket containing food. This netsuke features incised detailing and inked decorations throughout. Early netsuke figures of this quality are rarely found outside of public museums or collections.
• The artist`s signature is carved into the base of the netsuke.
• Originally worn as part of a male kimono ensemble by men of the warrior class, inro and netsuke developed as a form of conspicuous consumption within a culture that imposed a rigid four-tiered social system with warriors at the top, followed by farmers who tilled the land, artisans who crafted material goods, and merchants at the bottom. The artisans and merchants were collectively referred to as townspeople, or chonin. Given that the merchants were economically better off than many members of the socially superior military class, inro and netsuke allowed merchants to display their wealth without breaking any sumptuary laws that regulated the types of houses they could build or fabrics they could wear. The term netsuke is formed from the characters ne (?, meaning `root`) and tsuke (?, meaning `attached`).
• The Meiji era was an era of Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868, to July 30, 1912. The period corresponded to the reign of Emperor Meiji. The emperor was restored to nominal supreme power, and in 1869, the imperial family moved to Edo, which was renamed Tokyo (``Eastern Capital``). However, the most powerful men in the government were former samurai from Choshu and Satsuma rather than the emperor, who was fifteen in 1868. These men, known as the Meiji Oligarchs, oversaw the dramatic changes Japan would experience during this period. The leaders of the Meiji government desired Japan to become a modern nation-state that could stand equal to the western imperialist powers. The rapid modernisation during the Meiji era was not without its opponents, as the rapid changes to society caused many disaffected traditionalists from the former samurai class to rebel against the Meiji government during the 1870s, most famously Saigo Takamori who led the Satsuma Rebellion. The Meiji era was the first half of the empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonisation by western powers to the new paradigm of a modern, industrialized nation state and emergent great power.li>Dated to circa 1890 (Meji Period)
• Size: 52mm x 33mm x 33mm
• Condition: This piece is extremely well preserved and remains in excellent condition. The original carved detailing and inked decorations of this netsuke are still clear and defined.
• Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity (Internationally recognised BidSafe authentication and verification number: 4998272-1) (SN:4998272-1) (309697-1)

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