A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF AN OCTOPUSUnsigned, wood netsukeJapan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)A compact netsuke of a very good size depicting a naturalistic rendition of an octopus with bulging eyes inlaid in black horn. It is holding six of its tentacles to its bulbous and smooth head, while the two in the front are flaring outwards and touching the tentacles in the middle. The hundreds of suckers are precisely carved. The wood bearing a very attractive color and patina. The underside with more suckers and the characteristic mouth also called the 'lantern of Aristoteles'. Natural himotoshi.HEIGHT 4.4 CMCondition: Excellent conditionProvenance: British private collection stored in a bank vault for 40 years, with old collection number written in whiteAuction comparison: A comparable model was sold at Van Ham, Asiatische Kunst, Cologne, 8 December 2016, lot 2346.