† ISSAN: A WOOD NETSUKE OF TWO TOADS ON A WALNUTBy Ryusansai Issan, signed Issan 一山 with a kakihanJapan, Iwashiro Province, c. 1840, Edo period (1615-1868)Exquisitely carved as two toads clambering over each other atop a half-walnut shell, their bodies well detailed and eyes inlaid with dark horn, although the lower toad has one eye closed as his companion has one front leg placed over it. The rough texture of the walnut shell and smoothly polished skin of the toads creates a fine contrast which is further enhanced by the dark stain to the low points. One of the upper toad’s hind legs forms a possible ‘natural’ cord attachment. The underside of the walnut shell with a central, horizontally pierced himotoshi and the signature ISSAN with a kakihan. LENGTH 3.8 cmCondition: Very good condition, attractively worn, few tiny nicks. Provenance: A noted private collection, USA.Ryusansai Issan was a contemporary of Hidari Issan and always worked in wood. Here, however, the similarities between the two end. Ruysansai made naturalistic animals in a life-like style, not always compact but certainly always functional. The features of his creatures are carefully detailed and the eyes are inlaid. See Davey, Neil K. (1974) Netsuke: A comprehensive study based on the M.T. Hindson Collection, p. 260.Literature comparison: Compare a related wood netsuke of a toad on a sandal by Ryusansai Issan, illustrated in Davey, Neil K. (1974) Netsuke: A comprehensive study based on the M.T. Hindson Collection, p. 261, no. 806. Compare a related wood netsuke of a mole cricket on a walnut by Ryusansai Issan, illustrated in Galerie Zacke (1984) Netsuke und Inro, no. 6.Museum comparison: Compare a related wood netsuke of a frog on a straw hat by Issan, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 91.1.1000.13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer’s premium – only for buyers within the EU.