Of “Jurojin” seated, wearing an elaborate flowing scholar robe and holding a calligraphic scroll with both hands, the face half-hidden with a smiling expression. The back with a delicate decoration of floral arabesques, the base finely detailled showing the “himotoshi”. Signed in a rectangular reserve “Masayuki” with “kao”. “Asakusa, Tokyo. Very beautiful patina.
“Masayuki” is also known for the quality of his stag-antler netsuke, commonly signed in “tensho”.
“Jurojin” is the scholars god and is one of the seven “kami” of happiness.
On his scroll, sometimes identified as a buddhist sutra, is incribed the lifespan of all living things. He is sometimes accompanied by a deer which do not only symbolises the longevity but also the emoluments…