λ A JAPANESE LACQUER KŌBAKO (INCENSE BOX) AND FROG TONKOZU (TOBACCO BOX)

λ A JAPANESE LACQUER KŌBAKO (INCENSE BOX) AND FROG TONKOZU (TOBACCO BOX)
EDO/MEIJI, 19TH CENTURY

The box shaped as a large butterfly, its open wings rendered in woods of different colours, tortoiseshell, and mother of pearl inlays, the reverse with a label reading 'J. Sparks, 2/10/93, C.CD'; the tobacco box modelled as a disgruntled amphibian, its legs tightly tucked underneath its body, signed Gyokko underneath, 9.8cm and 6.5cm. (3)

Provenance: from the collection of William Cleverley Alexander (1840-1916), and thence by descent. The butterfly box purchased from John Sparks, 2nd October 1893, for £1.10. A copy of the original invoice is available.

Cf. G Lazarnick, Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to read their signatures, vol.I, pp.421-22 for two netsuke bearing the same signature.