Bone Netsuke of Crouching Dog with Cub
$232.00
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Looking from above, this netsuke has the shape of a half-moon. It is solid and carved of bone and likely, early 20th century. It depicts a crouching dog and at its rear a puppy, cutely lifting its left paw and resting it on her mother’s thigh, as if asking for attention or a favour. This netsuke has a grayish patina, showing lustre on the in- and outside of its body.
Like any appealing stray-dog, one is compelled to offer shelter, and so I did with this one. I had found this netsuke in another tiny back-alley in Tokyo’s Suginami-ku. Coincidentally, I came across them at a time my own dog was hospitalized.
This netsuke is unsigned and whilst the body is carved simply, its proportion is well executed and the face of adult and pup demonstrates good skill. I like its tactile feeling, fitting the hand by placing the index finger in the bend of the body with thumb placed underneath. The curve fits to the palm of the hand and the mother’s face looks out from the fist, with the puppy snuggling inside between index and middle finger.
Length: 5.5cm
