A Wood Netsuke

A Wood Netsuke
Unsigned (Probably Nagoya or Gifu), Edo Period, (Early 19th Century)
Katabori, stained boxwood; a well-carved model of a rat and two young, the eyes of all three inlaid in dark horn, the larger of the two young on its mother's back, the smaller by her side, the delicate hairwork somewhat worn by prolonged handling, the himotoshi formed by two holes in the base on either side of the adult's tail
1 1/8 x 1 11/16in. (2.9 x 4.3cm.)