λ A JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE OF A RAT

λ A JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE OF A RAT

MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY

The rodent naturalistically carved, seated on its haunches and nibbling at a candle it holds tightly between its front paws, its eyes and the wick inlaid in horn, signed Okatori in a rectangular cartouche to the back, together with a paper label inscribed 'Okatori', 4.2cm.

Provenance: from the collection of Collingwood 'Cherry' Ingram (1880-1981) and thence by descent. Cherry Ingram was a famous British ornithologist, plant collector and gardener who became renowned for his knowledge on Japanese cherry trees. See lot 261 for other pieces from Cherry Ingram's collection, including a six-fold paper screen.