Kappa and Ghosts

This netsuke, carved from walrus tusk, is a miniature drama of supernatural terror and otherworldly captivity. The translucent nature of the walrus tusk, layered in thin layers, only enhances the translucence of the ghosts and adds a wet sheen to the Kappa.
The composition centers on the Kappa, a malevolent spirit of Japanese rivers and lakes, known for drowning people. The faces of the ghosts—the souls of those it has killed—peep through the delicate carvings of the seaweed.
This is a primal horror: the Kappa‘s body is protected by a shell, radiating a predatory, sinister power. Its amber eyes watch its victims intently.
The ghosts panic, their faces contorted with terror, as they attempt to flee the Kappa‘s domain. The scene reaches a climax when the Kappa seizes one of the ghosts with its claws, refusing to let go of the souls.

This netsuke, executed with striking dynamics, reflects on the dark side of folklore, on the boundaries between the world of the living and the realm of the yokai, on the eternal fear of the cruel, indomitable force of nature, which is personified by the Kappa.

This Ryusa netsuke was carved from walrus tusk, its diameter is 7.1 cm, its thickness is 2.7 cm. UK, the owner is Andy Jordan