A POWERFUL SAISHIKI NETSUKE OF SHOKI AND ONI, STYLE OF YOSHIMURA SHUZAN Unsigned Japan, Osaka, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Boldly carved and well painted as the demon queller Shoki lifting a fierce little oni by its neck, the poor demon unable to free itself, and holding a sword in his left hand. Shoki's face with a grim expression marked by furrowed brows and a long, neatly incised beard. Good, functional 'chimney himotoshi' through the back and underside. HEIGHT 10.2 cm Condition: Good condition with expected wear to pigments and few light scratches. Provenance: French private collection. Literature comparison: Compare a related saishiki netsuke of Shoki with an oni, attributed to Yoshimura Shuzan, illustrated in Arakawa, Hirokazu (1983) The Go Collection of Netsuke. Tokyo National Museum, p. 16, no. 12. A saishiki netsuke of Shoki, by a follower of Shuzan, dated to the late 18th century, is in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, accession number M.87.263.93.