† TADAKUNI: A FINE NAGOYA SCHOOL WOOD NETSUKE OF SNAKE EMERGING FROM A PUMPKINBy Tadakuni, signed Tadakuni 忠國Japan, Nagoya, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Published: Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part B, p. 838.A finely detailed snake weaves its way in and out of rotting holes in the skin of a pumpkin. Its tongue flickering as it rests its head on the top of the vegetable. The individual textures of the snake’s scaly skin and the pumpkin’s grooved surface are achieved with a heightened sense of naturalism. Signed within a rectangular reserve in fine ukibori characters TADAKUNI. Two small himotoshi underneath.LENGTH 3.8 cmCondition: Very good condition, minor wear.Provenance: Ex-collection W. W. Winkworth.13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer’s premium – only for buyers within the EU.