Okimono: Ariomaru Wrestling an Octopus

"A fine Japanese boxwood okimono of Ariomaru wrestling an octopus, signed Ryumin To (Tokyo School 1840-1870). Ryumin is a highly collected netsuke shi. His okimono carvings are very rare. This carving is signed in a rectangular cartouche. Both the octopus and Ariomaru have inlaid jet eyes, his shirt with an ivory button. Ariomaru was a servant of Shunkwan, a priest exiled by Kiyomori. It is said, in folklore, that Ariomaru fought and killed the octopus that had seized Shunkwan’s leg. Shunkwan was exiled to Taira Kiyomori. Shunkwan was entrapped by an octopus and just as the octopus was going to kill Shunkwan, his servant Ariomaru came to his rescue. Ariomaru freed Shunkwan from the gigantic tentacles. Dating is late Edo period, 19th century, 3 1/4” l x 3”h." - Bernie McManus, Appraiser, Woodbury House, Connecticut, 08/29/2006

Sotheby’s, London, Japanese Works of Art, 6/19/2001, lot #79, sale #LO1266; A wood study of Ariomaru and the Octopus, signed Itsumin, mid 19th century, crouched wearing a straw skirt and grimacing as he struggles with the large octopus, the tentacles of which entwine his body and trail beneath to form the himotoshi, two ivory buttons adorn his shirt, and all the eyes inlaid in pale amber and dark horn, signed in an oval reserve Itsumin to, 4.2 cm.