Description TADATOSHI: A SUPERB NAGOYA SCHOOL WOOD NETSUKE OF A SEATED SLEEPING SHOJOBy Tadatoshi, signed Tadatoshi 忠利Japan, Nagoya, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Very finely carved and of ideally compact netsuke shape, the shojo depicted seated with one hand resting on its lap and the other cradling its face as it sleeps off the effects of too much sake. The expression is carved masterfully, retaining a hint of blissfulness while showing her tired drunkenness, the right cheek morphs slightly from the extended contact with the hand. The neatly incised long hair flows down over the beautifully detailed kimono. Large, asymmetrical himotoshi to the back and underneath, the larger hole generously excavated to accommodate the knot. Signed underneath within a recessed reserve in ukibori characters TADATOSHI. The cherrywood bearing a fine, dark patina.HEIGHT 3.3 cmCondition: Excellent condition, minor wear.Provenance: European collection.Tadatoshi and his followers carved many shojo depicted in various attitudes, though usually reclining. The variant of the shojo sleeping while seated is to be considered rarer than the reclining one.Auction comparison:A related wood netsuke of a sleeping reclining shojo, by Tadatoshi, was sold at Lempertz, The Kolodotschko Collection of Netsuke III, 5 June 2015, Cologne, lot 1064 (sold for 8,556 EUR).