Japanese netsuke, Ebisu leaning on a Tai

An image of Netsuke. Unknown maker, Japan. Ebisu is the protector of fisherman and merchants, he can be easily recognised by the court hat (Eboshi) and his fish. Here he tries to stop the large sea bream (Tai) moving away by leaning on top of the Tai. Ivory, the eyes of Tai-fish are inlaid with wood, 1800-1850.

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Netsuke. Unknown maker, Japan. Ebisu is the protector of fisherman and merchants, he can be easily recognised by the court hat (Eboshi) and his fish. Here he tries to stop the large sea bream (Tai) moving away by leaning on top of the Tai. Ivory, the eyes of Tai-fish are inlaid with wood, 1800-1850.

Image data

Accession Number: O.268-2008
Photograph copyright © The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.
Aperture: f/32.0
Focal length: 100
Camera: Canon EOS 5D
Photographer name: Image Library; Fitzwilliam Museum
Image height: 1025 pixels
Image width: 924 pixels
Processed with: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.0 (Windows)
Filesize: 516.37kB
Exposure time: 1/30
ISO Speed: 100
Fnumber: 32/1
Captured: 2000:01:01 02:40:53

Key words

19th Century bream carved Ebisu Edo Period faces fish fisherman fishermen fishing Fitz_AA hats inlaid inlay ivory Japanese leaning leaning forward male netsuke protector sea bream tai wood

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            The Fitzwilliam Museum (2026)
            "Japanese netsuke, Ebisu leaning on a Tai"
            Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/image/media-214786 Accessed: 2026-01-08 11:15:41

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            {{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/image/media-214786
            |title=Japanese netsuke, Ebisu leaning on a Tai
            |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2026-01-08 11:15:41|publisher=The
            University of Cambridge}}

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<div class="text-center">
    <figure class="figure">
        <img src="https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/imagestore/aa/aa40/O_268_2008_1_dc2.jpg"
        alt="netsuke"
        class="img-fluid" />
        <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Japanese netsuke, Ebisu leaning on a Tai</figcaption>
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</div>