A RARE STAG ANTLER AND IRON NETSUKE DEPICTING A FROG ON A LOTUS LEAFUnsigned Japan, Tokyo, Asakusa, second half of 19th centuryFinely and naturalistically carved as a furled lotus leaf with well-executed raised veins and pierced wormrot, ingeniously incorporating the natural flaws of the material, skillfully inlaid with an iron frog with spots in nunome-zogan, the frog encircled by a lotus stem issuing a pod and a bud, the reverse fitted with a looped cord attachment.LENGTH 4.4 cmCondition: Very good condition, minor wear, natural imperfection.Provenance: From the collection of Gaston Lazard (1878-1956) and his wife Jane Levy (1886-1985) and thence by descent within the same family.Auction comparison:Compare a related stag antler and iron netsuke, depicting a snail with acorns, at Zacke, Fine Netsuke, Sagemono & Okimono, 2 November 2019, Vienna, lot 73 (sold for 2,780 EUR).