GYOKUSAI: A SUPERB STAG ANTLER NETSUKE OF A KAPPA HEAD By Gyokusai, signed Gyokusai 玉齋 Japan, Asakusa, Tokyo, second half of 19th century Carved from the rosette of a choice piece of stag antler, fittingly stained green to depict a kappa head applied with some hair, the staring eyes double inlaid in mother-of-pearl and black lustrous horn. The hinged jaw is movable, revealing sharp inlaid teeth and a red-colored tongue. The natural surface of the antler is utilized masterfully to depict the warty skin of the kappa. The top is incised with a swirling pattern indicating the vital fluids of the kappa - amusingly, since kappa are ferocious but polite creatures, the best way to defeat a kappa is by respectfully bowing, so that it shall return the favor, thus spilling out its vital fluids and rendering it motionless. Himotoshi through the back and signed inside a mother-of-pearl cartouche GYOKUSAI. HEIGHT (mouth closed) 3.7 cm Condition: Excellent condition. Provenance: Ex-collection Dr. Walter Heihs, sold at Sotheby's, 17 June 1998, lot 732. Then European collection P. Jacquesson. Auction comparison: A very similar, yet unsigned netsuke from the Brockhaus collection was sold at Lempertz, Netsuke from the Albert Brockhaus Collection, 27 June 2020, Cologne, lot 581 (sold for 4,250 EUR).