A wood netsuke of a beetle

Style of Masanao of Yamada, Ise Province, 19th century

Style of Masanao of Yamada, Ise Province, 19th century
Unsigned.
3.8cm (1½in) wide.

???? ?? ?? 19??

Published:
Katchen, N7, vol.2, p.395, no.K588.

Clambering over a large curled leaf, a slender stalk beneath forming the himotoshi, the wood slightly worn and with a good patina.

A somewhat similar netsuke of a cicada on a leaf, signed Masanao, is illustrated in Harris, HGBM, p.91, no.444. Th work also shows affinities with that of Harumitsu of Ise, working in the latter part of the 19th century.