A LARGE JAPANESE WOOD NETSUKE OF A PORTUGUESE MERCHANT

A LARGE JAPANESE WOOD NETSUKE OF A PORTUGUESE MERCHANT

SHOWA OR LATER, 20TH CENTURY

Depicted standing, holding a curved sword in one hand and his hat with the other, wearing broad pantaloons and pointed boots, his coat decorated with a pattern of scrolling clouds, signed Shosai in a rectangular reserve at the back, 9.2cm.

Provenance: formerly the collection of Virginia Atchley (1911-2013), Los Angeles.

Cf. V Atchley & N Davey, The Virginia Atchley Collection of Japanese Miniature Arts, p.156, no.N215, where this very netsuke is illustrated and described.