† TADAKAZU: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF TURTLES IN A BASKETBy Tadakazu (Chuichi), signed Tadakazu 忠一Japan, 19th centuryVery finely carved as a straw basket filled with turtles, two adults emerging from the basket and clambering on one another, a further young turtle visible through a hole to the side of the basket. The details are finely carved, the carapaces naturalistically rendered, all eyes inlaid in dark horn. Large, asymmetrical himotoshi underneath and signed TADAKAZU within an oval recessed reserve.LENGTH 4.5 cmCondition: Very good condition, some minor wear and natural faults to the wood.Provenance: A noted private collection, USA.Auction comparison:Compare to a closely related wood netsuke, by Tadakazu, at Christie’s, Japanese Art & Design, 4 November 2009, lot 22 (sold for 4,375 GBP).13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer’s premium – only for buyers within the EU.