A wood netsuke of a sabre-toothed tiger


By Naito Toyomasa (1773-1856), Tanba Province, early 19th centurySigned in a long oval reserve Toyomasa. 4.2cm (1 5/8in) wide.
|木彫根付　虎　銘「豊昌」　19世紀前期Provenance: Purchased at Hauswedell and Nolte, Hamburg, 1963.Published: Katchen, N7, vol.2, p.165, no.K312 (the signature transposed with no.K311).Seated, its head turned back to the left and its tail passing forward over the back, the legs drawn in for compactness, one forming the himotoshi, the well-patinated wood with a typical stain and the eyes typically inlaid in pale translucent horn and two protruding teeth of marine ivory.For very similar examples by Naito Toyomasa, see Lazarnick, NIA, p.1192 and INSJ, vol.20, no.4, Winter 2000, fig.1 (property of the Naito family).