A lovely and unusual stag antler netsuke depicting a mushroom, bamboo and chestnut - Stag Antler - Japan - Meiji period (late 19th century)

Netsuke carved from deer antler, depicting a mushroom together with a chestnut and a bamboo root.

Mushrooms are often associated with nature and the beauty of the Japanese forest. This mushroom has been sculpted with meticulous detail, including the contours and striations on the surface.

Next to the mushroom, there is a chestnut. The chestnut is a symbol of good luck and prosperity in Japan, and is often associated with the autumn season when chestnut trees produce their fruit.

Additionally, the netsuke features a bamboo root. Bamboo is an important element in Japanese culture and is associated with longevity and flexibility.

Deer antler is a material traditionally used for netsuke carving due to its hardness, light weight and ability to create fine detail.

Himotoshi on the back.

---The netsuke is in excellent condition. Please refer to the images for further details.

The most important collections of netsuke are now found outside Japan, acquired in the late 19th century. and early 20th century. by European and American collectors as the Japanese have abandoned the daily use of netsuke in favor of a Westernization of habits and customs.

The Netsuke ideogram, composed of the kanji "ne" (根) meaning "root" and "tsuke" (付け) meaning "to hang", indicates the origin of this object. Initially, the Netsuke was actually a root or a piece of cut wood, hung from the obi, the band that tightens the kimono.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, the Netsuke became the collector's item par excellence, with specimens all different in subject, shape and material, which arouse curiosity and strike for their patina and small miniaturized details, but above all for their tactile impact .

However, it is important not to confuse authentic Netsuke with the poor Chinese reproductions made of bone or other materials, which can confuse those approaching these objects for the first time.

To fully appreciate the difference in quality and the material used, you need to caress, touch and closely observe these small Japanese sculptures.

--- We will pack your item with extreme care and entrust it to DHL or UPS who will deliver it within 1-3 days. Insurance is included.

The certificate of authenticity compiled by Luca Mastromauro, a Japanese art expert, will be given to the buyer. ---
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