By Ueda Kohosai (died 1907), signed Kohosai Japan, Osaka, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
An interesting composition depicting a naturalistically rendered cuttlefish bone carved from pure white ivory, the tapering end executed with great skill as it is thin as a wafer, and the other end stippled. The front is inlaid with an amusing image of a carp with its mouth opened, the scales finely incised and inked and thevisible eye inlaid in dark lustrous horn. The execution of the carp is very much in the manner of Anraku and this could suggest a collaboration between the two artists, which belonged to the same school. The finely stained reverse with himotoshi and signature KOHOSAI.
LENGTH 5.5 cm
Condition: One chip to the edge of the bone, otherwise perfect condition. Provenance: British collection.