19c netsuke THUNDER GOD with drum HARUYOSHI

Description

19th century boxwood netsuke of Thunder God Raiden standing on his drum that he tore open by beating it with a striker on the clouds. According to Japanese folklore by beating the drum Raiden creates thunder. The stretched leather part of the drum is lacquered in Negoro style: red lacquer over black, so as it wears the black starts showing. The bottom of the drum is carved as a seal, with a seal script reading HARUYOSHI (alternative reading is Shunko) in a reserve shaped like a mallet of Daikoku. Enlargement 1 shows the photo of the bottom flipped left to right, so the seal can be read. Haruyoshi may be the name of the carver or of the seal owner. Wonderful design and detailing, beautiful patina, overall in excellent condition. Height 1 3/8 inches.