A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF A SARUMAWASHI WITH MONKEY

Description:

Japan, signed Masaharu, 19th c.
H. 7,6 cm
Finely carved as a standing monkey trainer, holding his cane in his right hand, wearing a robe with finely incised folds, a small basket tied to his belt, his large bag tied around his shoulders, his monkey seated on his right shoulder, striking a cheeky pose. The monkey trainer with a humorous face expression smiling with his mouth wide open. The back with two asymmetrical himotoshi, next to the signature.
From a German private collection, assembled from the 1960s until 2007 - Former Albert Brockhaus Collection, no. 554, mentioned in: Albert Brockhaus, Netsuke, Leipzig, 1909, p. 407 and 222 and in MCI, The Meinertzhagen Card Index on Netsuke in the Archives of the Brititsh Museum, p. 411 - Minor wear, the feet replaced, one tiny chip