Ɏ MASAMITSU: A FINE IVORY NETSUKE OF A HARE WITH AMBER EYES

Ɏ MASAMITSU: A FINE IVORY NETSUKE OF A HARE WITH AMBER EYES


By Masamitsu, signed Masamitsu 正光
Japan, Tokyo, late 19th century

The large and compact netsuke wonderfully rounded, depicting a chubby hare (usagi) hunched on all fours as it sniffs the ground below, its eyes inlaid in amber, and long ears falling over its back. Each paw carefully carved and the whiskers finely incised. Natural himotoshi and signed to the underside MASAMITSU – judging by the quality and style of this work, this carver was likely affiliated with Kaigyokusai Masatsugu during his later years in Tokyo.

LENGTH 4.6 cm

Condition: Good condition. A few natural age cracks and minuscule nibbling to the ears. An old, smoothened chip to the tip of the tail and a small repair to the edge of the right hind paw. Overall presenting beautifully.

Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related ivory netsuke of a crouching hare with amber eyes, signed Masatsugu, illustrated in Coullery, Marie-Therese / Newstead, Martin S. (1977) The Baur Collection, p. 355, C 1117.

Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number DE-K-240411-203).



This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.