A RARE DOUBLE WALNUT NETSUKE WITH A MULTITUDE OF MASK BY TORYUSAI KOZANBy Kozan, walnut shell netsuke, silver inlayJapan, Iwashiro, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)An incredibly dense and clever composition carved from two walnuts (kurumi) and attached to each other. Depicted are around fifty Noh masks in various attitudes, the natural pointed tops of the kurumi are very cleverly utilized, since they show a tengu and usufoki mask with large pointed beak and forward pressing lips, respectively. The kurumi is lightly stained and of a very good color and the himotoshi are ringed silver, and some of the eyes and details are inlaid in silver as well. The signature KOZAN in a spatula-shaped reserve on the side. Toriusai Kozan was, along with Hidari Issan, the most notable kurumi netsuke carver.HEIGHT 3.7 CM, LENGTH 4.8 CMCondition: Very good conditionProvenance: European private collection, ex Mang collection, ex Helen Meredith Collection