netsuke (Gama Sennin with his toad)

netsuke (Gama Sennin with his toad) , 1700s

Where object was made: Japan

Material/technique: ivory

Credit line: William Bridges Thayer Memorial

Accession number: 1928.0298

Not on display

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One of the Eight Immortals of Taoism, Gama caught a three-legged toad while drawing water from a well. He was overjoyed, stating that he had been searching for the toad for a long time. The carver of this ivory nesuke has followed the standard iconography, depicting Gama in the leaf robe of a Taoist ascetic holding his toad companion in his arms. The immortal's grinning expression suggests his eccentric personality.