A FINE STAINED IVORY NETSUKE OF A CLUSTER OF CRABS BY IKKU
Ivory netsukeJapan20th centuryNot a lot is known about the contemporary artist with the go name Ikku (Isamu Kasuya), however judging by the quality of this netsuke that is highly unusual. Depicted is a very large crab, with huge bulging eyes, with ten other smaller crabs on top of it. The composition is unbelievably dense, there are crab eyes and claws literally everywhere, and as if that was not enough, the tail of a crayfish is inlaid in red-stained horn. They are cooking it by bundling together. Plenty of natural openings for himotoshi, the signature found in a rectangular reserve IKKU (Ichi-Ku).HEIGHT 3 CM, LENGTH 4.5 CMCondition: Excellent conditionProvenance: Collection of Sam Felton, purchased from Michael Spindel on 25th August 1985 (old invoice available)Auction comparison: Another netsuke (and ojime) by the artist was sold at Bonhams, Asian Decorative Art, San Francisco, 28 September 2005, lot 4562.