The Horse (Zodiac Set)

The Horse (Zodiac Set) Netsuke
The Horse (Zodiac Set) Netsuke
The Horse (Zodiac Set) Netsuke
The Horse (Zodiac Set) Netsuke
The Horse (Zodiac Set) Netsuke

Properties:

2019

Type: Netsuke

Sold. Russia, private collection.

Materials: Steller's sea cow rib from Commander Islands. Apricot stone, mammoth tusk and jet inlays.

Dimensions: 47×32×18 mm.

Weight: 23 g.

Images:            

The horse. This is the third netsuke of the Eastern zodiac set carved from a rib of fossil Steller's sea cow.

According to one of the legends, when Buddha invited the animals to himself to make them presents, they were forced to swim over quick and cold river. Probably, they could meet the fishes inhabiting the river. Therefore, I'll try to display each of the animals from this series together with a fish. It is a complex task but the more interesting is to find its solution.

Material is a rib of Steller's sea cow. The fish’s eye is inlaid with an apricot pit and jet. The horse’s eyes are made of brown fossil mammoth tusk, pupil is of jet. Signature on the inlay is of an apricot pit.