A JAPANESE WOOD NETSUKE OF A TORTOISE

A JAPANESE WOOD NETSUKE OF A TORTOISE

MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY

The reptile almost completely withdrawn into its shell, its head out, the eyes inlaid in light and dark horn, the top of its carapace opening to reveal the himotoshi, the underside inscribed Seki-shu Enokawa Seiyodo Tomiharu chôkoku (carved by the Eno River in Iwami Province by Seiyodo Tomiharu 1733-1810), 5.2cm.