37. NETSUKE EN BOIS REPRÉSENTANT UN TURFISTE Par Miyazaki Joso (1855-1910), Tokyo, fin du XIXe siècle A WOOD NETSUKE OF A RACE-GOER By Miyazaki Joso (1835-1910), Tokyo, late 19th century The punter leaning to his right with knees slightly bent, dressed in a dapper Western sporting suit and visored cap, one hand raised, resting on the visor, gazing into the distance at the horses racing past on the far side of the track, the other clutching the day's race programme or a wad of tickets, his hair and moustache finely groomed; signed on the left trouser leg Joso to (Carved by Joso). 6.2cm (2 7/16in) high. 木彫根付　競馬愛好者　銘「如藻」　19世紀後期 Provenance: Purchased from Kirin Gallery, November 1995. Exhibited and Published: Barry Davies Oriental Art, NC, no.70. Born in Ryogoku, Tokyo, Joso's real name was Seitaro. He studied under the netsuke artist Saito Ikkosai Kojitsu. Following a 10-year apprenticeship, he became independent in 1879 and a founder (and later a judge) of the Tokyo Carving Association. Joso was renowned both as the teacher of Morita Soko and for his elaborate and elegant workmanship, as is seen in the present lot. Previously identified by Barry Davies as a spectator for a yachting or rowing regatta, popular during the Victorian era, we would prefer to imagine this figure as a punter at the Negishi Racecourse in Yokohama, operational from 1866 to 1942; these dates would also correspond with the carver's dates.