Netsuke, ivory. Japan, around 1800
A somewhat larger composition with three different seashells, an abalone next to a scallop, above a hamaguri (Venus clam), holding a minogame in its crack. This is the "raincoat turtle" – the name comes from its covering of algae similar to a straw coat, abundant due to its long life. Meaning content is suggested by the erotic symbolism of the Venus clam. Good rounding, age characteristics, powerful patina, large himotoshi underneath.
WIDTH 5 CM
From a German collection