TADAKUNI: A SUPERB WOOD NETSUKE OF A RECUMBENT OX By Tadakuni, signed Tadakuni 忠國 Japan, Nagoya, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Published: Davey, Neil K. (1974) Netsuke: A comprehensive study based on the M. T. Hindson Collection, p. 190, no. 573. Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part B, p. 837. Rutherston & Bandini (2011) The Sheila M. Baker Collection of Japanese Netsuke and Inro, no. 43. Exceptionally well-carved and depicting a recumbent ox with its head rested on the ground and its legs neatly tucked underneath the body for compactness. The ox has a pronounced spine with well-defined ribs and the hairwork is masterful with immaculate incision work. The animal's expression is naturalistic and sensitive, enhanced by the minutely inlaid eye-pupils of dark horn. The finely stained wood is of a very appealing color, particularly to the smoothly polished and curved horns. Natural himotoshi and signed within a raised rectangular reserve in splendid ukibori characters TADAKUNI. LENGTH 6.2 cm Condition: Excellent condition. Provenance: JR Hawker collection, Mark Hindson collection, Sheila M. Baker collection, H. I. H. Princess Takamado collection (with an inscribed tomobako storage box from the princess).