Project Description

Stag Antler Silk Seal Netsuke

Carved from the branch point of an antler with a gruff looking Portuguese in a ruff, the crown of his head carved

with a small seal cut with an abstract zig-zag design

Unsigned.  Circa 1600

Height: 4.5 cm

A common feature of early netsuke is a repeat motif of concentric circles, probably produced with a tool like a compass. Here the motif appears as semi-circles linked by broad waves

MR3335