A RARE NEGORO LACQUERED WOOD NETSUKE OF A MONKEY WITH PEACH Unsigned Japan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868) The monkey is shown seated crouching, a branch with a large fruiting peach slung over his back. The features are typical - upturned snout, button eyes, wrinkled brows, all resulting in the very amusing expression this workshop is known for. The netsuke is attractively lacquered in the negoro style. Typically large himotoshi. HEIGHT 5 cm, LENGTH 4.5 cm Condition: Very good condition with only minimal wear to lacquer. Provenance: Ex-collection Teddy Hahn, Darmstadt. For a discussion of this carver see “The Abstract Monkey Carver” in Netsuke Kenkyukai Study Journal, vol. 12, no. 2, Summer 1992, pp.27-30. The netsuke feels larger in the hand than most of this type, and the addition of the negoro lacquer is quite unusual as well.