HIDETOMO: A LARGE AND RARE STAG ANTLER NETSUKE OF A CHINESE MAN WITH SQUIRREL
By Hidetomo, signed Hidetomo
Japan, mid-18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

Published: Barry Davies Oriental Art, Netsuke and Inro from European Collections (London, 2002), no. 80.
Galerie Gemini & Ichimonji Art (Munich, 2004), no.180.

A Chinese man, wearing an antique buttoned Chinese dress, is holding a leash in one hand to which a squirrel is attached. The squirrel, with large inlaid eyes, is lying across the man's shoulder with its leg and tail trailing down his back and resting its chin on the man's hand which holds the squirrel by its collar. A very unusual and possibly unique depiction. Very large himotoshi through the back and signature in a rectangular raised plaque HIDETOMO 秀友.

HEIGHT 11.8 cm

Condition: Some wear around the himotoshi and a minor loss to the tail of the squirrel. The legs are a later addition.
Provenance: Collection Dr. John Strong, then sold by Barry Davies, then Galerie Gemini & Ichimonji art, then Luxembourg private collection.