Lot 495 D‡α

A crane. Ivory. Second half 19th century

Signed on an oval reserve: Rantei
With the head turned, the left wing hanging down, seated on a turtle whose head is turned to the side looking out from under its shell. Ivory, very fine and meticulously carved, the details partly dyed dark, the eyes inlaid with black horn. The himotôshi suggests that this piece was never worn. Despite the sophistication of the composition and the very finely engraved and subtly dyed details, this netsuke does not seem to have been carved for use.
Height 3.4 cm