Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912) Carved as a half-peeled banana, a section of the skin peeled back to the brown stalk, revealing the fleshy, ribbed interior, the skin skillfully stained yellow with some brown streaks. An accomplished work at the very height of naturalistic fruit carving. LENGTH 19.2 cm Condition: Good condition with only few minor traces of wear, two small cracks with old repairs to the peel. Provenance: British collection. Auction comparison: For a related okimono of a banana, see Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, 12 November 2015, London, lot 487 (sold for 4,000 GBP).