Japanese Carved Sperm Whale Netsuke, Reader of Scrolls, by Tomomasa, ca. Late Edo/Meiji Period

Minutely carved sperm whale netsuke, depicting a scholar sitting on his knees contemplating an unrolled scroll with decorative running script, with two other scrolls in front of him on the ground, applied pigments to emphasize details, two carved holes on the back for silk cord. Marked with lacquer mark on the bottom and signed "Tomomasa". Provenance: old private collection, Amity, Washington County, Pennsylvania.

Condition: Very good antique condition, hard to notice natural distress line on the back, no detection of crosshatched lines with x12 magnification.