Project Description
Wood Netsuke of a Monkey in Chestnut, by Naito Toyomasa
Rather in the manner of a hatching tengu, the monkey stretches a powerful arm around the back of the nut, the hand of the other resting on the lip of the opening, as it prepares to haul itself out. The eyes are trademark inlays of yellow buffalo horn. The nut has three ridges which converge at the top, very pleasing figuring at the back and worn ukibori beneath. All in all this convinces as being by the master
Signed beneath. Tamba.. Circa 1830
3.9 cm across
Compare with another in the Bushell collection at LACMA, illustrated in the catalogue, no. 326. For me the present netsuke is far the most dynamic that I have seen of this subject
MR3676
