Dog 1771 - 1835

This small ivory carving of a dog was created by Tomotada in the late 18th or early 19th century. Notice the dog's posture, seated but alert, head tilted skyward in a howl. It’s a powerful image, drawing on a primal connection between humans and canines. Consider the dog, an animal that appears across cultures, from the loyal companions in ancient Egyptian tombs to the mythological Cerberus guarding the gates of the underworld. The act of howling, too, is laden with meaning. Think of the jackals of Anubis, guiding souls, or the lone wolf howling at the moon. This netsuke captures a moment of raw expression. It reminds us that images and symbols are never truly still. They echo through time, transformed by each new context, yet still resonating with the deep, wordless language of the collective unconscious. The howl is a primal scream, an expression of something ancient and deeply felt, perpetually renewed.