SUEYOSHI SEKISHU: AN EBONY WOOD NETSUKE OF A TORTOISE By Sueyoshi Sekishu, signed hachijurokusai Sekishu Japan, Iwami province, late 18th to early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Published: Earle, Joe (2000) The Robert S. Huthart Collection of Iwami Netsuke, Vol. 2, p. 365, no. 341. A finely carved, compact ebony wood netsuke depicting a tortoise almost entirely retracted within its carapace. The eyes of the reptilian are beautifully inlaid with a pale-orange material, which appears to be amber, and gives the tortoise a stunning expression. The individual sections of the shell are carved in a very accomplished manner, with the underside showing the beautifully wrinkled and scaly skin of its clawed limbs and tail. The himotoshi is formed by a section of the shell removable on the top and a central hole on the underside, where also the signature and inscription hachijurokusai SEKISHU 石舟 (Sekishu at the age of 86) is found. LENGTH 4.6 cm Condition: Very good condition with age-related and expected surface wear. Provenance: Raymond and Frances Bushell Collection, Willi G. Bosshard Collection, Robert S. Huthart Collection. According to Lazarnick, Sekishu carved many tortoises and lived to a great age, with some of them being signed even 104 years old.