Lot 320 Dα

An Edo school wood netsuke of a kappa on a hamaguri, by Kômin. 19th century

Climbing over a ridged clam which is closing its valves on the kappa's foot, on his back a tortoise's carapace, the pimply skin of the legs rendered in ukibori. The eye pupils painted black under translucent horn, the depression on top of his head inlaid with a grey material, the umbo inlaid with shell, the cord holes ligned with silver. Signed Kômin on a rectangular gilt tablet. Restored.
Height 3.1 cm; width 3.1 cm