Lot Essay
The sashi belongs to the subclass obihasami. The merman is a rare subject. The arm touching the ear forms the natural himotoshi and the curled tail catches the lower edge of the obi for safety.
Details
MERMAN
Stag antler obihasami, signed Masayuki
Early 19th Century
5 1/16 in. (12.8 cm.) long
Stag antler obihasami, signed Masayuki
Early 19th Century
5 1/16 in. (12.8 cm.) long
Literature
Bernard Hurtig, Masterpieces of Netsuke Art, Weatherhill, Tokyo, 1973, fig. 101; Raymond Bushell, Netsuke, An Exhibition of Netsuke from the Raymond Bushell Collection, Mikimoto, Tokyo, 1979, fig. 353