JAPAN, EDO PERIOD (LATE 18TH-EARLY 19TH CENTURY), SIGNED TSUHAN TANAKA MINKO WITH CURSIVE MONOGRAM (KAO) (TANAKA MINKO; 1735-1816)

Tanaka Minko (1735–1816) founded a small group of regional netsuke carvers in Tsu, Ise province. He is known to have produced several netsuke based on illustrations in Soken Kisho (Strange and Wonderful Sword Fittings), published in 1781. Minko also made tsuba, such as the example presented here, as well as inro, tonkotsu and boxes, although these were comparatively rarer than his netsuke. His subjects and materials were varied, encompassing figure and animal subjects carved in different woods, sometimes combined with inlays of materials such as stained ivory and stag antler.