GYOKURINTEI: A RARE AND POWERFUL EDO SCHOOL WOOD NETSUKE OF BASHIKO SENNIN By Gyokurintei, signed Gyokurintei 玉林亭 Japan, Edo (Tokyo), c. 1820, Edo period (1615-1868) The legendary veterinary Taoist immortal shown here meditating on a rocky plinth, a large dragon coiling around him amidst finely carved clouds. The dragon's scales are minutely incised and the sennin has a stern-faced, concentrated expression. The well-toned wood bearing a beautiful patina. Several possibilities for natural himotoshi through the open-worked rocky plinth. Signed underneath in boldly incised characters within an oval reserve GYOKURINTEI The subject is quite rare in netsuke art and usually misidentified as Chinnan Sennin or Rakan Handaka Sonja, who are both usually depicted with alms bowls from which they conjure the dragon. Bashiko Sennin was a healer of animals who came upon a sick dragon and remedied the dragon's ailments with acupuncture. From then on Bashiko became associated with dragons as they were often seen up in the clouds above a hill where he lived in a hut (as depicted in this netsuke). HEIGHT 3.8 cm Condition: Very good condition, the wood bearing a beautiful patina with associated surface wear. Some barely visible old nicks inside the open-worked rock structure. Provenance: Estate of Guenter Kauth (1946-2016), Frankfurt am Main.