† A SUPERB TALL WOOD NETSUKE OF SEIOBOUnsignedJapan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)The Queen Mother of the West standing and holding a peach branch and a scythe, her expression gracious and benevolent, wearing an ornate headdress, her finely carved, tied hair forming curls in the back. Her loosely fitted robe is finely carved and tied at the waist, with downward flowing bands in the front and with long, draping sleeves, one of which forms one himotoshi, the other large cord hole in the back. The wood bearing a beautiful, dark patina.HEIGHT 9.9 cmCondition: Very good condition, minor typical wear to exposed areas. Beautiful patina.Provenance: A noted private collection, USA, purchased from Bonhams, Netsuke from a European Private Collection, 8 May 2016, London, lot 146.Auction comparison:Compare to a related wood netsuke of Seiobo, by Hasegawa Ikko, dated to the early 19th century, at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 16 April 2021, Vienna, lot 173 (sold for 9,150 EUR). Another related wood netsuke of Seiobo was sold at Bonhams, Fine Netsuke from a French Private Collection, 4 November 2020, London, lot 19 (sold for 7,312 GBP).13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer’s premium – only for buyers within the EU.