Anonymous

Meiji period, 19th century

1868-1912

Netsuke

Pressed Ox horn ryūsa type netsuke depicting a samurai fighting a tiger on the front face and bamboo forest on the reverse surrounded by a cloud border.

The image seems to be depicting the print by Utagawa Toyokuni I (1769-1825) of Bando Mitsugoro as a Samurai Subduing a Tiger, 1810’s. Over many generations the well-known kabuki actor, Bando Mitsugoro has passed on his name to the 21st century. The warrior he is representing is Watonai.

The story of Watonai the tiger warrior is well known. Watonai was both Chinese and Japanese of mixed heritage, he wanted to reinstate china’s ming dynasty while the invading Manchu’s caused china mayhem.

A lacquer kobako box in the collection has almost the same image. The only difference is the samurai’s foot is not on the tiger its self, this is most likely because it is so small it would obscure the tiger image.

Unsigned

45mm x 47mm