Japanese Works of Art - 7th December 2020
Lot 400
λ A JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE OF A RAT
Estimate £400 - £600 | Hammer £3500
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Description
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.