SOYO: A FINE TSUISHU LACQUER MASK NETSUKE OF OKAME By Soyo, signed Soyo 藻與 to 刀 Japan, Tokyo, late 19th century Published: Brockhaus, Albert (1905) Netsuke. Versuch einer Geschichte der japanischen Schnitzkunst, p. 458, no. 842. Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part B, p. 819. The tsuishu (carved red lacquer) mask netsuke depicting the goddess of mirth Okame, typically smiling with puffed cheeks and a large forehead. Her hair is neatly parted down the middle. The inside of the back is lacquered in black and the central himotoshi bar is neatly incised with the signature SOYO to [carved by Soyo]. Soyo was related to Somin who were active during the late 19th century, related to the carvers Homin and Hokei, who share an affinity for tsuishu mask netsuke. HEIGHT 4.5 cm Condition: Very good condition with hardly any wear. Provenance: Ex-collection Albert Brockhaus (1855-1921), Leipzig, purchased in 1900. Sold by Kunsthandel Klefisch, 12 February 1992. Then European private collection P. Jacquesson. Auction comparison: A related tsuishu masks netsuke by Somin was recently sold by Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 16 April 2021, Vienna, lot 283 (sold for 9,480 EUR).