AN UNUSUAL JAPANESE BEAR TOOTH NETSUKE SHOWA 1926-1989 Carved with two small roundels enclosing a...

AN UNUSUAL JAPANESE BEAR TOOTH NETSUKE

SHOWA 1926-1989

Carved with two small roundels enclosing a stylised horse and an ox, the reverse finely engraved with an inscription reading Kemono santo and signed Masatoshi to, 4.7cm.

Cf. R Bushell, Netsuke Familiar & Unfamiliar, p.102, no.7 where this very netsuke is illustrated. The author explains that the inscription refers to 'three hide or fur-bearing animals' which are the horse, the ox and the bear to which this tooth once belonged.