Edo period (1615-1868), ink on paper, hanging scroll format, painting of Hotei with his trademark large bag, inscription to top half of the scroll, artist signature and red seal to lower right side, traditional Japanese mounting, wooden rollers, comes together with extensively inscribed tomobako wooden storage box.

DOA 69 x 15 1/2 in., Image size 35 x 11 in.

Hotei is one of the most popular figures in Zen and recognized as an incarnation of Maitreya, the future Buddha. According to legend Hotei, in Chinese Budai, travelled endlessly carrying his bag which, because of his good and jovial nature, came to be regarded as a kind of cornucopia; a bottomless source of benevolence. He is a god of good fortune always ready to hand out treasures from his bag.

Good estate condition; some scattered ink smudges; one spot of discoloration; a few minor creases; some light even overall toning to paper.