Pale Boxwood Netsuke of a Recumbent Puppy, attributed to Rantei
With head turned back and bearing a benign expression. The eye pupils are of buffalo horn
Bears signature Issan. Circa 1850
Width: 3.7 cm
It was an astute client friend who pointed out that the head is entirely typical of Rantei. Note the central furrow to the skull which can be seen in the pup in a dog group illustrated in Earle, ‘Netsuke. Fantasy and Reality in Japanese Miniature Sculpture’, Boston, no. 293
MR5351
