A very fine wood netsuke, of a design by Ogasawara Issai. We can determine this as the model is included in the Soken Kisho, 1781. Described as a cloth ball or globe.
The body is profusely carved with interlaced straw. Scattered over the surface in high relief carving are the attributes of luck.
Numerous artists inspired by Ogasawara Issai utilised this design, including Hidemasa, Natsuki (sai) Hidemitsu and Kiyokatsu. All the previous mentioned craftsmen were gifted, thus even though this is a superior model of its type, one cannot possibly discount that any of the above could have made the piece, though this also includes Ogasawara Issai, the master himself.
3.2cm Wide.
