Ashinaga and Tenaga Gold Makie Wood Carving 19th Century Japanese Meiji 足長手長

Antique Japanese Wood CarvingAshinaga Tenaga 足長手長Joint Effort Catching FishOrigin: Japan, Circa: Edo, 19th centuryH 9.5 in. (24cm) W 2.25 in. (5.7cm) D 1.75 in. (4cm)Measurement not including wood pedestalHairline crack on foot, overall in good condition! Ashinaga and Tenaga are famous friends in Japanese folklore, one with short arms and long legs, the other with short legs and long arms, who, by joining together, never lacked for sustenance. This rare representation of the duo is carved with exceptional skill in hardwood, richly stained in chestnut red, polished to a silken gloss surface with an aged mellow patina, with the reverent treatment of gold maki-e that accentuated the tobacco pouch and loincloths. The figures are joyous and high spirited, which conveys a celebration of achieving success in teamwork. All in all, this is a lively carving of great charm. Evidently it may have been used as a sashi netsuke at some point. On close observation, there appeared to be a thin crack li