| Antique
Japanese Carved Netsuke
Mother
and Pup
Seal
Netsuke
Netsuke signature: unsigned,
18th Century
H. 1.25in.(3cm.), W.
0.75in.(2cm.), D. 1.25in.(3cm.)
Condition:
crack lines, worn
With
rich golden patina, this carving of a large dog and pup is an excellent specimen.
Through prolonged usage the pup is rather worn on one side, but its small paw
is clearly seen resting on the hind leg of the large dog; which has two natural
himotoshi forming through the opened space between its legs. Together they sit
atop an oval base and serves as a handle for the seal, which is incised in classic
Kanji characters. The
seal-type netsuke are based on the Chinese originals; which were carved increasingly
from ivory rather than jade during Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Seal netsuke are
among the earliest netsuke recorded in Japanese literatures. This finely sculpted
group is essentially an original Japanese design motif, a variation on the popular
tiger and cub theme. | 
