NAKAYAMA SHOMIN: A SUPERB LACQUERED AND INLAID BURLWOOD NETSUKE By Nakayama Shomin, signed Shomin 昇民 Japan, Tokyo, late 19th to early 20th century, Meiji period (1868-1912) Published: Guillem, Mateu (1998) Netsuke: The Great Miniatures of Japanese Sculpture, p. 152. Carved as a large section of burlwood, finely polished and stained, a portion of the top hollowed out and inlaid with a small, stained stag antler toad with gilt metal eyes. Two black-lacquered ants are crawling across an inlaid leaf. Looped himotoshi underneath and signed in partially worn characters SHOMIN. LENGTH 5.4 cm Condition: Very good condition, some surface abrasions to the underside of the burlwood. Provenance: Spanish private collection. Nakayama Shomin was a member of the Tokyo Chokokai between Meiji 37 and Taisho 11 (1904-1922). He is listed in the book History of Japanese carving: Gebori Okimono and Shibayama of the Meiji period, The Shoto Museum of Art, Tokyo, 1996. He often depicted fish and aquatic creatures and often worked with wood and inlay. The manner of the lacquered ants in the present carving are very much in the manner of Jikan Ganbun, possibly suggesting a collaboration between these two important artists.