Horse ivory netsuke
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Rare natural ivory elephant netsuke depicting a horse coming out of a pumpkin, with the two front legs resting on the widest part of the pumpkin. Beautiful patina and shine with color and softness to the touch. The subject represents Chok'aro's miniature horse, but it is also the symbol of a child emerging from a mother's womb. In Japanese there is a saying "hyōtan kara koma", a horse that appears from a pumpkin. It is used when something completely unexpected, even unbelievable, happens. It refers to the legend of Chokaro sennin, an immortal being who possesses a horse that he can magically summon from a pumpkin. This expression c