MASANAO: A RARE WOOD NETSUKE OF DAIKOKU CARVING A RATBy a member of the Masanao family, signed Masanao 正直Japan, Yamada, Ise Province, mid to late 19th centuryThe lucky god of wealth Daikoku lifting his wish-granting mallet and holding a chisel to a rat which he is carving. The lightly stained wood with finely carved details. Natural himotoshi and signed underneath the rat on a shaped reserve simulating the unfinished underside of the rodent – MASANAO.HEIGHT 3.9 cmCondition: Very good undamaged condition, minor wear.Provenance: Collection Prof. Dr. Henk C. Hoogsteden, Rotterdam, purchased at Lempertz, Cologne, 5 June 2015, lot 1389.The rat (nezumi) is a symbol of wealth and familiar to the god of wealth Daikoku.Auction comparison:Daikoku is a rare subject for the Masanao lineage, for another example see Lempertz, The Kolodotschko Collection of Netsuke II, 6 December 2014, Cologne, lot 784 (sold for 1,488 EUR). For another example of this rare subject see Lempertz, The Kolodotschko Collection of Netsuke II, 6 December 2014, Cologne, lot 969 (sold for 3,720 EUR).