Patinated ivory katabori netsuke depicting the great Heian calligrapher and poet Ono no Tofu (894-964), who symbolizes perseverance. He is dressed as a nobleman, wearing eboshi, geta shoes and a closed parasol in his right hand. He wears a haori whose sleeve ribbons are carved in white ivory, while the rest of the garment has a light ochre patina. The same is true of the ties under the geta. A signature in red is engraved in a cartouche under one of the geta, Gyokusho ??. Japan, Meiji-Taisho period (1868-1926). H. 4.5 cm; weight 15 g