SARI: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF A SNAIL EMERGING FROM ITS SHELLBy Sari, signed Sari 左里Japan, Iwashiro, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Beautifully and naturalistically carved as a decidedly fat snail (katatsumuri) emerging from its shell with its feelers and labial tentacles folded back and resting on the shell for compactness. The ridged and spiraling shell is carved with incredible detail and the rough texture of the body is achieved through a multitude of finely etched strokes. The foot is visible on the underside, forming a curling lump with natural himotoshi going through under it. The use of staining and some gold lacquer is sublime. The edge of the shell signed SARI.LENGTH 4 cmCondition: Excellent condition with only very minor wear.Literature comparison: Compare a closely related wood netsuke of a snail by Sari illustrated in Davey, Neil K. (1982) Netsuke: A comprehensive study based on the M.T. Hindson Collection, p. 257 and p. 269 (in color), no. 794.Museum comparison: Compare a closely related wood netsuke of a snail by Sari, formerly in the Trumpf collection and now in the Linden Museum Stuttgart, inventory number OA 19210.Auction comparison: Compare a closely related wood netsuke of a snail by Sari at Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, 6 November 2014, London, lot 66 (sold for 4,000 GBP), and another at Galerie Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 29 October 2021, Vienna, lot 123 (sold for 7,584 EUR).