The William Oates Jeffery Collection - Netsuke, Ojime, and other Ivory Objects

Two Rats - Ojime

dimensions:

 7/8" high x 3/4" wide x 1 1/4" long

Collected in Japan

  circa 1935

19th Century elephant Ivory Ojime depicting two rats with a lump of food.  The larger rat stands protectively over the meal, while the smaller rat nibbles on a tasty morsel. Nice form and expression.  Inset red eyes, most likely boxwood.  Inward facing eye insets are missing. 

SOLD

Signed on back of smaller rat. 

Artist is probably Masakazu, a Kyoto carver of wood and ivory, and student of Masanao.

Single hole from top to bottom. 

Good Condition.  Nice soft patina.  One small age line next to signature.  Faint number 5 written in red on bottom.  

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