SHION: A WOOD NETSUKE OF A MONKEYBy Shion, signed Shion 紫苑Japan, Mie Prefecture, 21st centuryA well-carved compact netsuke depicting a young monkey seated with the feet placed in front and forming the himotoshi, the simian with neatly incised and finely stained fur, the eyes inlaid in translucent horn with dark pupils, the mouth slightly open, the expression conveying a childlike sense of wonder. Signed next to the short tail SHION.HEIGHT 3.3 cmCondition: Excellent condition. Shion is a Japanese contemporary netsuke carver who was born in Mie Prefecture and began carving netsuke in 2004 at the studio of Tadamine Nakagawa. The artist, hailing from the same prefecture as the Masanao family, has clearly incorporated this famous family’s style into his work.