† A SUPERB ANTLER SASHI OR OBI-HASAMI NETSUKE OF A KAPPA EATING A CUCUMBER

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† A SUPERB ANTLER SASHI OR OBI-HASAMI NETSUKE OF A KAPPA EATING A CUCUMBER Unsigned Japan, Shiba, Tokyo, second half of 19th century Hopkins, Jay (1982) Staghorn Figural Netsuke, Netsuke Kenkyukai Study Journal (NKSJ) vol. 2, no. 4, fig. 5. Sydney L. Moss Ltd. (1993) Zodiac Beasts and Distant Cousins, no. 86. Moss, Paul (2016) Kokusai The Genius: and Stag-antler Carving in Japan, vol. III, pp. 358-359, no. 548. Superbly carved from an extraordinarily long branch segment, depicting a kappa with a profoundly mournful expression, the eyes inlaid with dark horn, holding and biting into a cucumber issuing leafy tendrils, the free hand along its body, the head surmounted by a natural deer coronet with hair tufts. The netsuke was converted into a Western pipe-tamper by the addition of a silver foot, bearing the hallmarks of Jane Brownette and Alexander Jones, a workshop active 1876-1897, with a date stamp corresponding to the year 1883. Natural himotoshi. HEIGHT 17.8 cm Auction comparison: Compare a related antler obi hasami netsuke of a kappa with cucumber, attributed to Kokusai, but of smaller size (12.1 cm), at Galerie Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, Vienna, lot 120 (sold for EUR 7,800). 13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium - only for buyers within the EU.

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