JAPANESE POLYCHROME IVORY NETSUKE OF A SUMO,20th Century, Signed Hodo. Depicting a victorious sumo wrestler standing in a ceremonial apron painted with a red sun amid silver waves on a dark green ground above gilt fringe, the large rope "belt" suspending paper streamers and tied to the back over his light green fundoshi, the intense face with black painted features and chonmage-arranged hair, the back incised Hodo, together with a wood netsuke of a man. - Larger: 2 1/8 in. high. Estimate $300-400
PROVENANCE: Acquired from Butterfield and Butterfield, San Francisco, Lot 946, March 1991 (with bill of sale)
