Lot 382 Dα

A boxwood netsuke of a blind rat catcher. 19th century

The blind man wearing only a fundoshi crouches above a tray and presses down a masu while he holds on to the tail of the rat which sits on his back. The moxa pieces on the man's back in flat inlay of various materials, the eyes of dark and light horn. Signed Deme? Crack to one hand and one foot.
Height 3.6 cm