AN EXCELLENT IVORY NETSUKE OF A SKULL WITH SNAKESAN EXCELLENT IVORY NETSUKE OF A SKULL WITH SNAKESUnsigned, ivory netsuke Japan, late 19th centuryA morbidly fascinating composition depicting an anatomically precise skull with two slithering snakes coiling around it - an eerie scene representing death and the evanescence of life. One snake is coiled on top of the cranium while the other is winding around several openings in the skull, the end section is upright, and it is ‘feeling’ the other snake. The individual scales are crafted masterfully and naturalistically, and the eyes are inlaid in black horn. The details of the skull, especially the sections of the nose and teeth are carved exquisitely as well. The underside with the himotoshi in-between the winding body of the snake.HEIGHT 4 cmProvenance: European collection.Condition: Very good condition, minor expected age cacks through the snakes.