Netsuke, korozo nut. Japan, 19th cent.
Rare depiction from a rare artist. Also the material is rare – vegatable ivory from the korozo nut (also called ivory nut), which comes from certain palms. The lively crafted animal is more of a mythical creature, as his tail flows into the leaf upon which he reclines. The himotoshi below are well-worked, the signature on its own integrated part: It reads YASUTYUKI SHINAYAMA 安 月 品 山 .
WIDTH 3,6 CM
From a German collection