Printed from Woolley & Wallis

Description

A LARGE JAPANESE STAG ANTLER KOGATANA NETSUKE

MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY

Of curved form and hiding a short blade, the surface decorated with a dense design of a writhing dragon amongst clouds, with two tama (grant-wishing jewels), leafy tendrils, flowers, key frets, and the extremities with monsters' heads, attached to a bamboo tonkotsu, the tobacco box carved with a three-clawed dragon emerging from clouds whilst grasping a tiger with its scaly tail, on a dense ground of cross designs, the lid with clouds and bamboo leaves; together with a wood tonkotsu decorated with many insects in a variety of inlays including mother of pearl, lacquer, horn and bone, the kogatana netsuke 36.2cm. (3)