1980s Vintage Japanese Netsuke Trio – Festival Boy, Daikoku & Rabbit in a Boat For Sale

1980s Vintage Japanese Netsuke Trio – Festival Boy, Daikoku & Rabbit in a Boat – Museum of Fine Arts Boston Wonderful group of three vintage Japanese miniature carvings preserved together in a private collection for more than three decades.The original collection archive identifies the three pieces as:• Festival Boy Netsuke
• Daikoku Netsuke – God of Wealth and the Land
• Rabbit in a Boat NetsukeTwo of the pieces have particularly strong documented provenance.The Festival Boy and Rabbit in a Boat were acquired from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in 1988, and the original Museum of Fine Arts invoice survives in the collection archive.The historic invoice records:• Festival Boy Netsuke – MFA catalog no. 130207 – original price $18.50
• Rabbit in a Boat Netsuke – MFA catalog no. 130507 – original price $17.50Both pieces also retain visible “MFA” markings, providing an additional physical connection to their Museum of Fine Arts origin.The center figure is identified in the original collection inventory as Daikoku, Japanese god of wealth and the land. It was already in the collection prior to 1988 and had an original recorded cost of $20. No separate receipt is recorded for the Daikoku figure.The group displays beautifully together and includes an interesting range of traditional Japanese subjects.The Rabbit in a Boat features a compact animal figure within a highly decorated vessel with carved wave-like ornamentation along the sides.The Daikoku figure is a substantial seated composition with detailed clothing, facial features, and accompanying objects.The Festival Boy is carved as a seated figure in traditional clothing, with a dramatically different reverse featuring a mask-like or animal-form design.All three show age-related surface wear, coloration, fine scratches, and patina consistent with long-term collection and display.ProvenancePrivate collection archiveFestival Boy Netsuke
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Acquired 1988
Original recorded price: $18.50
Original invoice survives
MFA marking presentDaikoku Netsuke
Japanese
Acquired prior to 1988
Original recorded price: $20
Receipt: None recordedRabbit in a Boat Netsuke
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Acquired 1988
Original recorded price: $17.50
Original invoice survives
MFA marking presentA particularly appealing vintage Japanese miniature group with unusually good surviving provenance for the two Museum of Fine Arts pieces.Original archival documentation shown in the photographs has had private identifying information redacted.Please review all photographs carefully for condition, details, markings, and construction. Sold as the complete group of three.

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