SHUGETSU: A RARE WOOD NETSUKE OF HOTEI TRAPPED IN HIS BAG By Shugetsu, signed Shugetsu 舟月 Japan, Edo (Tokyo), late 18th to early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Published: INCS Journal vol. 5, no. 1, p. 48, fig. 13. Boldly carved as the lucky god Hotei peeking out of his large treasure sack, his plump face well detailed, the sack tied around a fan at the top. Hotei appears to be trapped inside his bag, his expression visibly agonized, as he tries to claw his way out. Two asymmetrical himotoshi to the underside, along with the boldly carved signature SHUGETSU. WIDTH 4.7 cm Condition: Good condition with old wear, minor nibbling here and there, few light scratches, small natural age cracks. Fine, dark patina. Provenance: The Gabor Wilhelm Collection, Paris. In the INCS journal vol. 5, no. 1 (June 1977), the present owner of this piece, Gabor Wilhelm, asks whether his netsuke “might represent Hotei bound inside his Treasure Bag, as an ironic allusion to the incarceration of the first Shugetsu as punishment for carving a model of a Sacred Object.” Raymond Bushell's answer was, “It is a novel explanation and may possibly be true. The design has generally been regarded as an artistic caprice and certainly an excellent design for a simple functional netsuke.”