YASUFUSA: A FINE IVORY NETSUKE OF A BITCH WITH TWO PUPS By Saito Yasuo (Yasufusa) (born 1931), signed Yasufusa Japan, Tokyo, 20th century A very fine carving, depicting a mother dog with her two young pups, all of them closely huddled together, their eyes double inlaid in pale and dark horn. The hairwork and staining is superb, very much reminiscent of the works of Kaigyokusai Masatsugu of Osaka, who is known to have been a big influence for the artist. Note the charming and playful expressions of the pups. The underside showing the finely carved legs and the good, asymmetrical himotoshi. Signed YASUFUSA 保房 inside a rounded rectangular reserve. With the original tomobako (storage box), titled on the lid: Sodachi yuku toki, meaning ‘nurtured its cherished offspring’, signed and sealed on the underside: Yasufusa. HEIGHT 3.2 cm, LENGTH 3.5 cm Condition: Excellent condition. Provenance: British collection. Saito Yasuo (Yasufusa) is the cousin of contemporary master Bishu. Auction comparison: Another fine netsuke by the artist was recently sold at Zacke, Fine Netsuke, Sagemono & Okimono, 24 November 2018, Vienna, lot 115.