Standing 10 inches high, this fine okimono depicts a fisherman gathering his net, ready to cast for his catch. Attempting to copy his father, the child has a rod in the hope of making his own catch. The group is a metaphor for the wisdom and skill of the experienced contrasted with the naivety of youth. The expression of confidence and worldliness on the face of the fisherman contrasts resoundingly with the dreamlike wistful hopefulness on the face of the child. A great example of the subtle art of the nineteenth century Japanese ivory artists that are increasingly sought after today.
