An early kokutan (ebony) wood netsuke depicting a bulky cat (neko) feasting on a little rat which it holds between its front-paws. The fur is finely incised, and the arched back is impressively and naturalistically achieved, the expressed spine leading to the tail which goes under the body and merges with one of the paws. The underside with good detail as well and very large and beautiful himotoshi. Cats are feared by Taoists who regard it as a demon who has taken the place of an old woman.

Category:

Netsuke

Subcategory:

-

Subject:

Animal

Material:

Wood

Age/Country:

18th Century

Artist:

-

Provenance/Owner:

Galerie Zacke

Signed:

unsigned

Type:

Katabori

Height:

mm

Width:

47mm mm

Depth:

mm

ID number: