MICHAEL BIRCH: THE GHOSTLY GHOST By Michael Henry Birch (1926-2008), signed with artist’s initials ‘MHB’ 1997 Published: Birch, JKL (2013) The Art & Life of Michael Birch, p. 25. Exhibited: The Carvings of Michael Henry Birch, International Netsuke Society Convention, Honolulu, 1997. After being prompted by fellow carver friend Ryushi to carve a ghost of total freedom, Michael Birch decided to carve an entirely different ghost, a truly ghostly ghost, tightly coiled and compact, at one with the dark flames from which she was about to spring up and startle her treacherous lover. Michael Birch carved this ghost from a flawless section of (deeply stained) ivory cut from an exceptionally rare piece of North American mastodon tusk given to him by fellow carver Masatoshi (catalog no. 153) sixteen years before he made this netsuke. The fossil ivory is over a million years old (!). For the full description of this netsuke, by Michael Birch, see Birch, JKL (2013) The Art & Life of Michael Birch, p. 25. HEIGHT 5.3 cm Condition: Excellent condition. Provenance: British collection.