A FINE NAGOYA SCHOOL WOOD NETSUKE OF SHIMEJI MUSHROOMSUnsigned Japan, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Naturalistically carved as a cluster of shimeji (beech mushrooms), the stems of the two largest forming the himotoshi, the radial gills of the caps and roots of the stems superbly incised and applied with dark stain, the cap of the largest finely rendered to appear partly worm-eaten.LENGTH 4.5 cmCondition: Very good condition with minor wear, light surface scratches.Provenance: Kunsthandel Klefisch, 9 April 2011, lot 312. Collection Prof. Dr. Henk C. Hoogsteden, Rotterdam, acquired from the above.Literature comparison: A related wood netsuke similarly rendered to convey insect activity by Tadayoshi is illustrated in Coullery, Marie-Therese / Newstead, Martin S. (1977) The Baur Collection, p. 285, C 860.Museum comparison: Compare also a related wood netsuke of two mushrooms by Tadatoshi, also with the stems forming the himotoshi, in the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, object number 2006.002.044.