A FINE IVORY SEAL NETSUKE OF A DOG WITH COLLAR AND BELL BY TOSHIHIDE (JUEI)
Ivory netsukeJapan19th centuryThis dog, or inu, is seated upright on an oval base with its expressively carved head turned backwards. The dog has floppy ears and is wearing a decorated collar with a bob and a bell on it. Its tail forms a large spiral. This netsuke was originally meant to be an ingyo (seal) netsuke but remained uncut. Signature on one thigh in a rectangular reserve Toshihide or JUEI with a kao underneath that is very characteristic of this artist. The name Juei literally translates to “eternal life”.HEIGHT 5.3 CMCondition: Very good condition - appealing patina, especially to one sideProvenance: British private collectionAuction comparison: A netsuke by the same artist was sold at Bonhams, The Harriet Szechenyi sale of Japanese Art, London, 8 November 2011, lot 3.