KAIGYOKUDO MASATERU: A FINE STAINED WOOD NETSUKE OF THE SAMBIKI SARU By Kaigyokudo Masateru (1871-1946), signed Masateru æ£ç…§ Japan, Osaka, late 19th – early 20th century, Meiji period (1868-1912) Elaborately carved as five monkeys in and around a large chestnut, the ones in the front imitating the three wise monkeys (sambiki saru) using their hands or feet to cover the ears, eyes, or mouth of one another. The back of the chestnut shows two further monkeys facing each other, one clinging to the side and the other emerging from a hole. The details all finely carved, the chestnut is masterfully hollowed. The underside is minutely stippled, simulating the natural structure of the chestnut, as well as two asymmetrical himotoshi and the neatly incised signature MASATERU within an oval reserve. HEIGHT 3.2 cm Condition: Excellent condition. Provenance: British collection. Kaigyokudo Masateru (1871-1946) was the son of Masachika and grandson of Kaigyokusai Masatsugu (1813-1892). Literature comparison: A similar wood netsuke by Kaigyokudo Masateru is illustrated in Zacke, Japanische Netsuke, Inro und andere Sagemono - Ausstellung 1986, no. 20. A similar netsuke by Masateru’s grandfather Kaigyokusai Masatsugu is illustrated in Meinertzhagen / Lazarnick (1986) MCI, Part A, p. 294.