YOSHIHISA: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF A COILED RATBy Yoshihisa, signed Yoshihisa 義久Japan, Nagoya, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Of compact form, well carved as a rat curled up into a half ball, cleaning itself, scratching itself behind the ear with one foot, the other leg forming the himotoshi with the curved tail, the eyes inlaid with yellowish, translucent horn, the fur and tail neatly incised, one hind leg signed YOSHIHISA within an oblong reserve. LENGTH 3.5 cmCondition: Good condition, minor wear and traces of use. A repaired crack through the body with associated traces of adhesive.Yoshihisa is an excellent but little-known carver, whose style is reminiscent of the Minko school. See Bushell, Raymond (1961) The Netsuke Handbook by Ueda Reikichi, p. 308, and Davey, Neil K. (1974) Netsuke: A comprehensive study based on the M.T. Hindson Collection, p. 219. As evidenced by his carvings of rats, however, he was more likely a member of the Nagoya school.Museum comparison: Compare a related wood netsuke of a rat on a peapod by Yoshihisa, 4.4 cm long, dated approx. 1800-1868, in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, object number B70Y1.Auction comparison:Compare a closely related wood netsuke of a coiled rat by Yoshihisa at Christie’s, The Raymond and Frances Bushell Collection of Netsuke Part I, 27 October 1987, London, lot 146. Compare a closely related wood netsuke of a coiled rat by Yoshihisa at Sotheby’s, The Betty Jahss Collection of Netsuke Part I, 13 June 1991, London, lot 70 (estimate 8,000-10,000 GBP).