NETSUKE: KIDOMARU UNDER OX FUR.
Japan. Edo period. 1st half of the 19th c.

Coral and ivory. Young Kidomaru hiding under an ox fur carved from an evenly red piece of coral. The boy's face; and the ox' head and one leg follow the form of the coral with very finely engraved fur. This composition rests on a flat ivory base; carved and subtly coloured with engraved details from leaves and blossoms; accentuated by inlaid dewdrops of various materials like coral; mother-of-pearl; and silver. Very harmonic composition. One of the Himotoshi heart-shaped; the bottom finely polished. Height 2.4cm; width 4.9cm. Condition B/C. Tiny loss and breakage in the grass on the base.

Please note that objects made of ivory; rhinoceros horn and turtle shell; due to Cites regulations can only be sold within the European Community. At present the export in third countries is prohibited.
Art trade; Van Ham.