A Fine Japanese Ivory Netsuke of Sennin with an Octopus

A Fine Japanese Ivory Netsuke of Sennin with an Octopus on his Shoulder
Kyoto School
Circa 1750

Size: 10cm high - 4 ins high

CITES permit: 2025/BE00993?CE

The various ‘sennin’ derived from the Chinese immortals are extremely numerous making identification of many difficult but there are a handful of known netsuke of the octopus sennin. Sennin are ascetic with magical powers and have an ability to remain immortal for 100,000 years.
This wonderfully dynamic example depicting the standing sennin with a large octopus perched on his shoulder is carved with an expertise that is not often encountered in mid-18th century netsuke. The octopus peers at the sennin between his tentacles and the sennin has typical long curling hair. He is powerful yet refined and the ivory has developed a beautiful patina over the nearly 300 years since it was created.
The two asymmetrical ‘himotoshi’ are classically placed at the back to position the netsuke perfectly on the ‘obi’ when used with its accompanying ‘sagemono’.