Lot 288 Dα

A boxwood tonkotsu. Second half 19th century

The oval shape carved all over with three monkeys in a peach tree reaching for the fruits hanging from the branches. The peaches inlaid in ivory and horn, the leaves of green-stained bone, the eyes double inlaid in horn, a few inlays replaced. Signed Shûôsai at the base. Inside the lid a red Japanese collector’s label with numbering. Wood ojime of a climbing monkey with inlaid eyes, and as a netsuke a Chinese toggle of a monkey with a chestnut, the black lacquer coating rubbed off.
Height 7.5 cm; width 9 cm