A SUPERB STAG ANTLER MASK NETSUKE OF HANNYAUnsigned Japan, probably Asakusa, Toyko, second half of 19th centuryFinely carved with a fierce expression, the intense eyes with raised and pierced pupils, the nose bridge and forehead with cranial bump well-detailed, the hooked nose with pierced nostrils, the mouth wide open showing teeth and tongue, the back with a himotoshi bar, the stag antler with a rich, deep staining.HEIGHT 3.5 cmCondition: Very good condition, minor wear, natural imperfections with possible associated small loss to back of tongue.As evidenced by the museum comparison below (and many further examples in private and public collections), stag antler netsuke are most commonly of a rather rustic design, especially compared to the present netsuke, which boasts well-detailed and finely carved features that make this a particularly rare example.Museum comparison: Compare a related stag antler mask netsuke, formerly in the Trumpf collection and now in the Linden Museum Stuttgart, inventory number OA 18928.Auction comparison: Compare a stag antler netsuke of an oni, attributed to Kokusai, at Sotheby’s, 19 June 2001, London, lot 43 (sold for 3,840 GBP), illustrated in Wright, Douglas J. K. (Fall 2001) Auctions, International Netsuke Society Journal, Vol. 21, No. 3, p. 36. Also compare a related stag antler mask netsuke of Hotei, with a similar patina, 4.7 cm high, dated early 19th century, at Galerie Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 25 September 2020, Vienna, lot 220 (sold for 4,803 EUR).