Monkey trainer with child c. late 19th century

This 19th-century ivory netsuke, created by the artist Hōgetsu, depicts a monkey trainer with a child and a monkey. Netsuke are small, intricately carved toggles traditionally used in Japan to secure items to a kimono sash. The piece showcases the artist's mastery of detail and the meticulous carving of the figures. The monkey trainer's playful expression and the child's wide-eyed wonder capture a snapshot of everyday life in 19th-century Japan, reflecting the popular theme of animal trainers and their animal companions within the netsuke genre.