† KINSUI: A CONTEMPORARY WOOD NETSUKE OF A COILED RATBy Kinichi Kawase (born 1926), signed Kinsui 欽水Japan, Mie prefecture, second half of 20th centuryA finely carved and compact wood netsuke of a coiled rat grabbing its large, finely carved tail and scratching its snout and ear with its hind paws. The large eyes are inlays of dark, lustrous buffalo horn. The hairwork is superbly incised. Natural himotoshi and signed within a polished reserve KINSUI. With a wood box box from H. I. H. Princess Takamado inscribed with the artist’s name.HEIGHT 3.4 cmCondition: Excellent condition.Provenance: Ex-collection H. I. H. Princess Takamado.Kinsui (real name Kinichi Kawase), an electrical engineer born in Mie prefecture, started carving netsuke in 1953. His style is distinctly that of the Masanao family hailing from the same prefecture.13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer’s premium – only for buyers within the EU.