A FINE AND RARE EBONY WOOD NETSUKE OF A CAT EATING A RATUnsigned, wood netsukeJapan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)An early kokutan (ebony) wood netsuke depicting a bulky cat (neko) feasting on a little rat which it holds between its front-paws. The fur is finely incised, and the arched back is impressively and naturalistically achieved, the expressed spine leading to the tail which goes under the body and merges with one of the paws. The underside with good detail as well and very large and beautiful himotoshi. Cats are feared by Taoists who regard it as a demon who has taken the place of an old woman.LENGTH 4.7 CMCondition: Very good condition, one of the paws shows a slightly different color in the wood, but is originalProvenance: British private collection with two valuations from Sotheby's, by Neil K. Davey, dated 1974 & 1984, inventory no. 118