A LARGE JAPANESE WOOD NETSUKE OF A SHISHI

A LARGE JAPANESE WOOD NETSUKE OF A SHISHI

MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY

Seated on its haunches and resting its paw on a reticulated ball enclosing a smaller one, its head turned to the right as it bares its teeth in a snarl, revealing a minute ball in its mouth; its mane and tail with long scrolling hair and with its eyes inlaid, signed Masanao underneath for Masanao of Yamada (Ise Province), 4.5cm.

Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent. See Japanese Works of Art, 1st July 2020, for the first part of this private collection of netsuke sold in these rooms.