Japanese Works of Art - 14th November 2018
Lot 860
AN UNUSUAL JAPANESE BEAR TOOTH NETSUKE SHOWA 1926-1989 Carved with two small roundels enclosing a...
Estimate £600 - £1,000
+ Buyers Premium
Description
AN UNUSUAL JAPANESE BEAR TOOTH NETSUKE
SHOWA 1926-1989
Carved with two small roundels enclosing a stylised horse and an ox, the reverse finely engraved with an inscription reading Kemono santo and signed Masatoshi to, 4.7cm.
Cf. R Bushell, Netsuke Familiar & Unfamiliar, p.102, no.7 where this very netsuke is illustrated. The author explains that the inscription refers to 'three hide or fur-bearing animals' which are the horse, the ox and the bear to which this tooth once belonged.