264 - AN UNUSUAL LACQUERED WOOD HAKO-FORM ‘TORTOISE’ NETSUKE

AN UNUSUAL LACQUERED WOOD HAKO-FORM ‘TORTOISE’ NETSUKE Unsigned Japan, 19 th century Of compact rectangular hako-form with gently rounded corners, lacquered in dark reddish-brown and black. The slightly overhanging upper section is finely decorated in takamaki-e with a naturalistically rendered tortoise, its domed carapace carefully worked with overlapping scutes and fine linear detailing, the head, legs, and tail projecting beyond the shell and lending the otherwise geometric composition a lively sculptural quality. The underside with two himotoshi. Conceived in the manner of a hako netsuke, although solid and non-opening. LENGTH 4 cm Provenance: Ex-collection W. W. Winkworth. William Wilberforce ‘Billy’ Winkworth (1897-1991) was one of the foremost British collectors and connoisseurs of Chinese and Japanese art of his generation and an important early collector of netsuke. Born into a distinguished collecting family, he worked at the British Museum under R. L. Hobson during the 1920s and later at Sotheby’s and Glendinnings. His discerning eye and close involvement with the London art market made him an influential figure among collectors of Japanese art, particularly netsuke, lacquer, and sword fittings. Condition: Small repair to the edge. Otherwise very good condition with tiny nicks to the himotoshi. Minor wear to lacquer.