Lot 718 Dα

A boxwood netsuke of an octopus strangling a monkey. Around 1800

An octopus with an amusing surprised expression and wearing a sleeveless jacket encircles its tentacles around a screaming monkey. The eye sockets and mouth of the monkey coloured red, eyes of both animals of beige-coloured and black horn. Inscribed Tsu han Minko with kaô.
The subject maybe refer to the tale of Ryûjin's personal physician, an octopus, who needs a monkey's liver in order to heal Ryûjin's sick daughter.
Height 4.7 cm