By Munehiro, signed Ichiyosai Munehiro Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)
The man standing on the naturalistically carved oval base, wearing a neatly incised patterned robe, the sagemono with ashtray netsuke, tabako-ire, and kizeruzutsu attached to his obi, holding an openworked wicker basket with a cloth tied around the bottom, finely incised with butterflies and flowers, above four small chicks and a hen with another chick on her back walking on the ground, appearing to get ready to trap them, with an excited expression on his face, his hair, brows, and pupils finely inked.
Signed ICHIYOSAI MUNEHIRO inside a red lacquer cartouche on the underside.
HEIGHT 13.5 cm
Condition: The legs of the hen are reattached to the base. Otherwise fine condition. Provenance: British collection.
Auction comparison: An almost identical okimono sold by Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, 15 may 2014, London, lot 314 (sold for 3,750 GBP).