netsuke (Gama Sennin with his toad), unknown maker from Japan

Archive Label date unknown: 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.