A WOOD NETSUKE OF A MONKEY EATING A PERSIMMON (KAKI)Unsigned Japan, probably Gifu, late 19th centuryThe darkly stained wood finely carved to depict a seated monkey biting into a kaki, holding the leafy stalk with both hands above his feet, the legs providing the natural himotoshi, the eyes double inlaid with pale and dark horn.HEIGHT 3.3 cmCondition: Very good condition, minor wear, few minuscule nicks, few light surface scratches, one eye inlay probably replaced.Provenance: Ex-collection W.W. Winkworth. Beaussant, 16 April 1999, Paris. French private collection, acquired from the above.Literature comparison: Compare a related wood netsuke of a monkey eating persimmons from the same school, by Tomokazu, illustrated in Chappell, Sharon / Welch, Matthew (1999) Netsuke: The Japanese Art of Miniature Carving, p. 93, no. 130.Museum comparison:Compare a related wood netsuke of a monkey eating a persimmon, also unsigned, dated c. 1860, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, object number 2007.016.056.